Message from the President / The Successive Presidents

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Bangkok (JCC) is among the largest Japanese chambers of commerce abroad, with a history of 70 years since its establishment in 1954, boasting 1,671 member companies (as of 1 April 2025). In addition to our main projects that contribute to trade, investment, and economic development between Japan and Thailand, we also carry out various social activities, such as cultural exchange and educational support.

At the end of March this year, Thailand was hit by a major earthquake that occurred once in several decades, and in April reciprocal tariff measures with the USA came into effect. The fiscal year 2025 has started amidst an uncertain outlook, including the international situation. The future of trade negotiations remains uncertain. However, the Thai government is working to reach a compromise with the US while simultaneously accelerating efforts to develop new export markets, mindful of the ongoing friction between the US and China.

In times of uncertainty, the value of certainty is more strongly recognized than ever. The trust built over the years—through keeping promises, meeting deadlines, and making timely payments—has been a defining strength of Japanese companies. Now is the ideal moment to re-evaluate and reaffirm this principle. As Thailand’s third-largest trading partner, Japan’s steadfast business approach will continue to garner attention. Additionally, the recent earthquake has heightened interest in disaster preparedness and seismic resilience in Thailand. This presents an opportunity to re-assess Japan’s expertise in disaster prevention technology and emergency response strategies, which could play a crucial role in shaping future initiatives.

To further strengthen trust in Japanese companies, the JCC will undertake various initiatives focused on requests to the Thai government, strengthening the member company network, and social contribution activities.

Beyond enhancing the business environment through dialogue with the Thai government, the JCC will also advocate for Thailand’s sustainable development, including the promotion of renewable energy adoption. Additionally, this year, we will continue to foster cross-industry collaboration to reinforce connections among member companies. By actively facilitating opportunities for businesses across diverse sectors to exchange knowledge, we hope to generate new synergies that contribute to Thailand’s growth

Furthermore, as part of our social contribution efforts, we will launch the Lumpini Park Development Project in partnership with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, to commemorate our 70th anniversary. In parallel, we remain committed to nurturing the next generation of talent through initiatives such as scholarships for engineering students and exchange programs with Japanese companies.

I recognize the deep trust and high expectations that the Thai government and the Thai companies place in the JCC. By uniting the voices of our member companies and translating their needs into actionable initiatives, we can further enhance the JCC’s effectiveness and strengthen our relationship with Thailand. We remain dedicated to expanding our activities, ensuring that we remain a reliable, approachable, and capable organization. We sincerely appreciate the ongoing support of our member companies and encourage your active participation in JCC activities.

                           May 2025