21 June 2024
Mr. Kenichi Yamato (4th from right), Krungsri President and Chief Executive Officer, His Excellency Mr. Otaka Masato (4th from left), Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of Japan in Thailand, Dr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin (3rd from left), President and CEO of depa, Mr. Hirofumi Yatabe (2nd from left) Senior Managing Director of Tokyo SME Support Center Japan, Mr. Kenji Yabuta (3rd from right) President of Mitsubishi Research Institute and Krungsri’s Executives jointly held the Japan-ASEAN Startup Business Matching Fair 2024. This event deemed as the largest startup matching event in ASEAN, aims to enhances the startup ecosystem, fosters network connections, and drive growth in both the ASEAN region and Japan.
Bangkok (21 June 2024) –
Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya PCL) reaffirms its commitment to being “The Leading Sustainable and Regional Bank” by joining forces with leading partners, including the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan, Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), the Techo Startup Center under the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Cambodia, and the National Innovation Center of Vietnam (NIC) to organise the
Japan-ASEAN Startup Business Matching Fair 2024. This event aims to create business matching opportunities for over 60 startups from six countries with more than 180 leading international companies. This initiative enhances the startup ecosystem and fosters network connections, driving growth in the ASEAN region and Japan. Through this collaboration, Krungsri and its partners play a key role in promoting sustainable regional economic growth.
His Excellency Mr. Otaka Masato, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of Japan in Thailand
On this occasion,
His Excellency Mr. Otaka Masato, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of Japan in Thailand, presided over the ceremony and gave the opening speech. In his address, he said that promoting the startup ecosystem is one of the key missions of the Japanese government under the Five-Year Joint Action Plan on Japan-Thailand Strategic Economic Partnership. Key areas of cooperation include projects related to Japan's "Green Transformation (GX)" strategy and Thailand's "BCG Economy". The Japanese government is delighted to support this major regional event, which is a tangible outcome of collaboration between digital promotion agencies, public and private sectors from Japan, Thailand, and ASEAN countries. It is hoped that this will lead to the growth of startup businesses and digital transformation in the region.
Mr. Kenichi Yamato, Krungsri President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Kenichi Yamato, Krungsri President and Chief Executive Officer said, “Krungsri is committed to strengthening the startup ecosystem through funding, technology knowledge, and business information. We are actively creating market opportunities for startups to attract investors to the region. Today’s business matching event is being held continuously for the second year, showcasing over 60 rising startups from various business sectors across six countries, with a focus on those in the ESG sector that have technologies to reduce carbon emissions or provide automated factory solutions, significantly contributing to sustainable business practices. The valuable collaboration between ASEAN, Japan, and the MUFG network has been instrumental in making this the largest startup business matching event in ASEAN, creating over 400 business matching opportunities in just a single day.”
The Japan-ASEAN Startup Business Matching Fair 2024
Krungsri, a strategic member of the MUFG group, boasts extensive expertise and a network spanning over 40 countries worldwide. With more than a decade of strong experience in business matching activities, Krungsri has effectively leveraged its strengths to create diverse platforms for customers to connect with potential business partners from Japan and across ASEAN. The
Japan-ASEAN Startup Business Matching Fair 2024 serves as a platform for over 60 rising startups from six countries—Thailand, Japan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, and Indonesia—in promising sectors such as Health Tech & Aging Society, FinTech, Food Tech, E-Commerce, Factory Automation, and ESG Solutions. These startups will have the opportunity to meet with more than 180 leading companies from six countries, fostering significant business connections.
The Japan-ASEAN Startup Business Matching Fair 2024
In addition to startup pitching sessions to investors, the event features business matching activities, exhibitions by over 60 entrepreneurs and startups, and seminars by Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting and Mitsubishi Research Institute. These seminars will provide valuable insights on collaboration strategies to practically address social issues in ASEAN. The event also highlights the role of Japanese startups in advancing technology and industry in Thailand and the Mekong region. Additionally, Krungsri ASEAN LINK will also host workshops offering business consulting for those interested in investing in ASEAN. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from the experiences of leading E-Commerce startups from Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Additionally, Krungsri has signed two memorandums of understanding (MOUs). The first was signed with the Tokyo SME Support Center Thailand Branch Office and Krungsri Finnovate. The second MOU was signed with the Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI), Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Thailand Office, Sasin Japan Center, Sasin Management Consulting, and Krungsri Finnovate. Both collaborations aim to foster an environment and ecosystem conducive to the development of startups.
“In this opportunity, we would like to thank our network partners and customers for trusting us to be part of today's success. This event marks a significant step in strengthening the startup ecosystem in the region, enabling the development of innovations or technologies to address global challenges. It also sparks progress for startups to grow beyond ASEAN, driving digital economic systems and ESG operations towards sustainable economic growth across the region,”
Mr. Yamato concluded.