The Department of Business Development is expanding the success of “Local Woven Fabrics: Thai Wisdom” showcased at the IMF-World Bank 2026 event, transforming "trends" into "trade value" through four main strategies aimed at increasing product value and securing sustainable income for communities.
Kittiwat Patchimnan, Director-General of the Department of Business Development, revealed that 37 Thai and local fabric patterns from 26 communities across 21 provinces were featured in the 2026 annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, hosted by Thailand. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Sutthammanoon instructed the department to build on this success by continuously creating economic value and awareness, elevating product development, branding, and market connectivity to generate recurring income for small entrepreneurs and communities.
To achieve these goals concretely, the Department of Business Development has devised a plan to develop local woven fabric and community product entrepreneurs through four main strategies:
1. Expanding market channels to global platforms by bringing local woven fabrics and community products onto international online trading platforms, establishing a QR Code ordering system that serves as a permanent digital storefront, enabling community entrepreneurs to close sales instantly with customers worldwide.
2. Enhancing design and branding by collaborating with young designers to transform traditional handwoven fabrics into premium products that meet the needs of high-end customers such as architects, interior designers, five-star hotels, and catering businesses both domestically and internationally.
3. Creating opportunities and business matchmaking by acting as a central hub to connect community entrepreneurs with major buyers in service sectors, hotels, and restaurants, while promoting ready products to participate in international trade shows and matchmaking events.
4. Strengthening management capabilities through workshops on business management, cost control, inventory management, maintaining production standards, cost calculation, and developing sustainable packaging to support premium market demands.
Kittiwat added that during,December this year, plans are in place to showcase the capabilities of renowned local woven fabric and community product entrepreneurs at major trade and sales events: 1. MOC Expo 2026, from 4-6 December 2026 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, and 2. OTOP City 2026, from 19-27 December 2026 at IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, Muang Thong Thani.
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