Thailand has unveiled the winners of a nationwide youth short video competition aimed at placing the next generation at the heart of debates over the future of the economy, as Bangkok prepares to host one of the world’s most influential financial gatherings later this year.
On June 26th, the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Thailand announced the top five winners of the contest, part of the broader “Road to Thailand” campaign leading up to the 2026 International Monetary Fund-World Bank Group Annual Meetings (AM2026 Thailand).
The competition invited university and college students aged 18 to 25 to submit vertical video clips of no longer than two minutes, presenting policy ideas designed to address emerging global and domestic economic challenges.
Organizers said the initiative was intended to stimulate public discussion on economic policy, as well as ensure that young people play an active role in shaping Thailand’s long-term development agenda.
From more than 130 submissions received nationwide, ten finalists advanced to the final round, where they defended their proposals before a panel of judges.
Confronting the challenges of our era
Contestants were asked to tackle one of two key topics:
1. Identifying urgent policy priorities for the global economy if they were leading an international financial institution.
2. Envisioning Thailand’s economic trajectory over the next 35 years as the nation seeks to build resilience and empower its people.
The winning entries reflected some of the defining issues confronting policymakers worldwide.
1. Natthanan Chuea-in secured the grand prize and THB50,000 in prize money.
2. Siwapat Pudsa was named first runner-up, receiving THB30,000
3. Kansom Makhai claimed second runner-up honors and THB20,000.
Two honorable mentions, Nawakul Pachanaphun and Napat Sakdibhornssup, each received THB10,000.
Earning a place at the “Olympics of Finance”
In addition to cash prizes and certificates, the winners gained an exclusive opportunity to participate in the IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings themselves.
Thailand will host the summit from October 12th to 18th at Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, marking the first time in 35 years that the Kingdom has staged the event.
Often dubbed the “Olympics of Finance,” the meetings are set to attract more than 15,000 participants, including finance ministers, central bankers, economists, business leaders, civil society representatives, and journalists from the IMF and World Bank’s 191 member countries.
Held under the theme “Thailand’s New Horizons: Empowering People, Building Resilience,” the gathering is expected to focus on inclusive growth, sustainable development, and strengthening economic resilience in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
Although economic policymaking is often seen as the domain of technocrats, central bankers, and political elites, initiatives like the youth short video competition signal a broader ambition to bring younger voices into conversations that will shape future economies.
They’re also an acknowledgement that the next generation, far from merely inheriting tomorrow’s economic challenges, is already helping to imagine solutions.
Teerin Julsawad