The Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce is organizing the Thailand Local SDGs Plus Expo 2026, a grand shopping festival that gathers quality products, delicious foods, and community goods from over 200 genuine entrepreneurs across Thailand in one place at Hall 7, LG Floor, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, from 21 to 23 August 2026 GMT+7.
Besides enjoying shopping for products, food, drinks, and stylish crafts, visitors can enjoy free activities every day during the three-day event. At 1:00 p.m., inspirational panel discussions will share perspectives on products, communities, and sustainability in an easy-to-understand way.
At 2:00 p.m., attendees can join free workshops that offer hands-on activities and take-home results. Starting at 5:00 p.m., enjoy relaxing mini concerts featuring numerous artists and bands. The highlight on 22 August 2026 GMT+7 is a close-up performance by the soft-voiced singer Atom Chanakan.
Promoting SMEs Avery Digital launched the SMART SME: PRIVACY & TRUST CONNECT 2026 project to help SME and startup entrepreneurs appropriately apply personal data protection principles in their business operations and prepare for increasing data risks and cyber threats.
Executives and experts from the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) shared essential knowledge and guidelines. PDPC supports knowledge, tools, and mechanisms enabling entrepreneurs to systematically assess and enhance personal data management.
One key mechanism is the Privacy Maturity Model (PMM), a framework to evaluate an organization's readiness and maturity in personal data protection, helping businesses clearly identify their current status, gaps, and areas for improvement.
Additionally, there is GPPC+, a platform developed by PDPC to support more systematic management and compliance with personal data protection laws. It includes tools related to privacy notices, data processing activities management, data subject rights requests, and data protection officer workflows. Interested parties can learn more atGPPC+. Government Platform for PDPA Compliance
These data privacy mechanisms are integrated with cybersecurity risk assessment approaches and IT Health Check activities under the project, enabling entrepreneurs to have an overview of data governance, operational processes, and IT system security.
The project includes special lectures, expert panel discussions, and forums on practical PDPA implementation in business, covering customer data collection and usage, data risk management, data breach preparedness, and building trust with customers and users. Entrepreneurs can also receive IT Health Check services to assess IT system readiness, identify preliminary risks, and clearly see areas for improvement in data privacy and cybersecurity.
The project framework is designed for entrepreneurs to start and develop systematically through five operational steps.
Know — Assess where data and systems are at risk.
Plan — Define clear roles, processes, and response plans.
Do — Implement PDPA work into systems that can be managed and monitored.
Protect — Choose solutions suitable for business size, type, and risk level.
Lock — Control identities, access rights, and critical organizational data.
These five steps aim to make complex data privacy and cybersecurity issues understandable and actionable for entrepreneurs, allowing them to see the big picture and start without needing to do everything at once.
For investment support, the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME D Bank) provides credit access for entrepreneurs seeking to develop their businesses, including investing in technology upgrades, personal data protection, and cybersecurity, enabling SMEs to plan system improvements appropriate to their size and capacity.
Meanwhile, Megatrend x plays a role in connecting SME entrepreneurs and business networks to access projects, knowledge, tools, and approaches tailored to each organization’s needs, also providing space for entrepreneurs to meet experts and service providers in data privacy, cybersecurity, and related technologies.
This event also attracted representatives from business sectors and entrepreneur networks, including the Restaurant Association, Thai Fresh Market Association, and Digital Technology Entrepreneurs Trade Association, who participated in discussions, exchanging views and using project guidelines to benefit entrepreneurs and businesses in the future.
At the same occasion, Avery Digital launched the websitewww.averyittech.comwith a new look to serve as a channel for project news and activities as well as a medium to convey knowledge about data privacy, PDPA, cybersecurity, and technology. This helps entrepreneurs and the public understand and apply these topics more easily. Avery Digital also launched the podcast “Leak LEAK,” which explains PDPA, personal data protection, cyber threats, and technology in simple language under the concept “turning IT language into human language,” hosted in a casual style by Benz Apache, an influencer and content creator, making data and technology topics more relatable and accessible.
Support from PDPC in knowledge, mechanisms, and tools, credit access from SME D Bank, business sector connections by Megatrend x, participation from associations and entrepreneur networks, and knowledge and communication channels from Avery Digital are all key components creating a strong ecosystem for data privacy and cybersecurity. This helps entrepreneurs access knowledge, assess risks, plan, develop systems, and extend investments concretely and sustainably.
The SMART SME: PRIVACY & TRUST CONNECT 2026 project not only helps entrepreneurs better understand personal data protection requirements but also transforms PDPA and cybersecurity from seemingly complex burdens into vital mechanisms for risk reduction, operational standard enhancement, trust building, and long-term business growth readiness.