Krungsri Brings Together Strategic Partners for Japan-ASEAN Startup Business Matching Fair 2026, Connecting Startups with Global Opportunities Showcasing AI, Low-Carbon Innovation, and Social Impact Technologies to Drive Sustainable Growth

Bangkok (10 July 2026) — Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya PCL), a member of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), one of the world's largest financial groups, joined forces with government agencies and leading business organizations from five countries—Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia—to co-host the Japan-ASEAN Startup Business Matching Fair 2026, the largest startup business matching platform in ASEAN. The event connects more than 70 startups from seven countries with over 200 leading international corporations, highlighting AI and factory automation as key drivers of innovation and business opportunities, while fostering sustainable growth across the region.
 
His Excellency Mr. Otaka Masato, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of Japan in Thailand, said: “The Japan-ASEAN Startup Business Matching Fair 2026, now in its 4th edition, has grown to its largest scale with increasing participation from startups across ASEAN, reflecting the continued expansion of the regional startup ecosystem. This momentum aligns with the Japanese Government’s Startup Development Five-Year Plan, which aims to increase startup investment tenfold and further strengthen key innovation hubs such as Tokyo, Fukuoka, and Nagoya. The fair also serves as an important platform to connect entrepreneurs, investors, and businesses across borders, and we would like to express our appreciation to Krungsri, MUFG, and all partners for making this initiative possible, helping to foster deeper cross-border collaboration and new opportunities between Japan, Thailand, and ASEAN.”
 
Mr. Kenichi Yamato, Krungsri President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Japan-ASEAN Startup Business Matching Fair 2026 serves as an important platform that connects government agencies, academic institutions, startups, investors, and business partners from across the region to foster collaboration and expand business opportunities. This year, the event generated more than 500 business matching opportunities within a single day, reflecting Krungsri’s commitment to supporting cross-border collaboration through Krungsri ASEAN LINK as well as MUFG’s global network to connect customers with new partners and markets. We are confident that these collaborations will lead to innovation and sustainable growth across ASEAN and the region in the long term.”

For this year’s event, Krungsri has significantly expanded its regional collaboration network by forging its first formal collaborations with the Philippines and Indonesia, two ASEAN economies with strong economic potential and fast-growing startup ecosystems, while continuing to receive support from government agencies, business organizations, and innovation partners across Japan and ASEAN, including Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the ASEAN-Japan Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), the Tokyo SME Support Center, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (MCDA), and MUFG. In addition, CU Innovation Hub, Chulalongkorn University, joins for the first time this year, helping accelerate Thai innovation and startups toward the global stage.
   
The event brings together more than 70 startups from seven countries, covering global megatrend technologies including AI and factory automation, carbon reduction and carbon tracking solutions, e-commerce enablement technologies, as well as innovations in food, health, and longevity, alongside social impact innovations. It provides opportunities for participating startups to present their technologies and engage in business matching with over 200 leading companies, investors, and business organizations across various industries. In addition to the business matching activities, the event also features an innovation showcase area for startups and entrepreneurs, as well as panel discussions that share insights on the economy, trade, investment, and the growth outlook of the regional startup ecosystem.
 
On this occasion, Krungsri also signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (MCDA), Bank Danamon Indonesia, Krungsri Finnovate, and MUFG Innovation Partners (MUIP). The collaboration aims to support Indonesian startups in accessing international markets through Krungsri’s and MUFG’s networks, connect entrepreneurs with investors and business partners, and strengthen cooperation among the public and private sectors as well as relevant institutions. It also seeks to jointly develop programs and initiatives that tangibly drive the growth of the regional startup ecosystem.

The Japan-ASEAN Startup Business Matching Fair 2026 underscores Krungsri’s position as a leading financial institution and trusted partner in connecting business opportunities, innovation, and technology with its customers’ growth potential. This is backed by the strength of its global partner network. Krungsri remains to pursuing new opportunities to grow alongside its clients in a stable and sustainable manner.