BANGKOK, Thailand – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Suphajee Suthumpun met with International Schools Association of Thailand (ISAT) President Usa Somboon and association executives on October 30, 2026, to discuss expanding Thailand’s international education services and enhancing its status as a regional education hub. The meeting at the Ministry of Commerce was attended by Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister Weerasak Kowsurat, Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) Director-General Warawut Somwangprasert, and senior department officials.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the sector’s high educational standards and economic potential, noting that international students and their families contribute to school revenue as well as accommodation, food, tourism, and related services. She stated that the Ministry will support international market expansion through DITP’s overseas trade promotion, business matching, and international events hosted in Thailand. She also noted previous cooperation with the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) to support government scholarship recipients studying abroad.
International School Bangkok (ISB) Director Usa Somboon reported that the association has 207 member schools with about 89,000 students and aims to increase enrollment to 120,000 within four years. Priority markets include South Korea, Japan, and Myanmar. She and other representatives from leading international schools also shared insights and recommendations from the education sector. The DITP will work with ISAT to implement policy recommendations, with the goal of expanding Thailand’s international education market and strengthening its position as a leading educational destination in the region. (NNT)
