A recent delegation from Hong Kong witnessed first-hand the dramatic changes taking place in Thailand’s infrastructure and real estate landscape during a recent visit to Bangkok.

The itinerary for last week’s Hong Kong Infrastructure Development and Real Estate-related Services (IRES) mission, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), took in two major developments – Thailand Digital Valley and One Bangkok – that exemplify the Kingdom’s ambition and rapid transformation.

The Thailand Digital Valley initiative, supported by the country’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), aims to nurture start-ups and tech innovations across multiple sectors.

One Bangkok is a multi-billion dollar fully integrated development in the heart of the capital that encompasses retail, commercial, office, leisure and living facilities.

The Hong Kong visitors – including architects, engineers, property developers and other IRES professionals – also met with government bodies and industry associations as well as major developers to explore potential partnerships and find out more about Thailand’s evolving landscape.

The delegation was co-led by Stephen Liang, HKTDC Assistant Executive Director and lawmaker Lo Wai-kwok, who represents the engineering functional constituency in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council.

Thailand’s mega-projects and large-scale investments in road, rail, aviation and shipping offer plentiful opportunities for collaboration, Mr Liang noted.

“Similar to Hong Kong, infrastructure development is a key priority in Thailand’s growth plans,” he observed.

Earlier this year, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya Jungrungreankgkit outlined the details of a major infrastructure initiative for 2025-6.

The plan includes 223 projects this year and a further 64 projects next year, with a combined budget exceeding Bt253 billion (US$7.5 billion).

Mr Liang also highlighted how Hong Kong’s role as an international business and financial hub complements the city’s IRES know-how.

“Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to facilitate tripartite cooperation among project owners, service providers and investors,” he said.

A networking luncheon hosted by the HKTDC during the mission also showcased Hong Kong’s IRES strengths and value-added services.

This was followed by a business matching session during which Hong Kong delegates and Thai companies discussed a wide range of areas, including public transport, sustainable urban development, smart city initiatives and infrastructure financing.

In recent years, the HKTDC has also organised IRES delegations to different cities in Mainland China as well as to Malaysia and Indonesia in the ASEAN region.

Hong Kong is home to many world-class architectural, building, surveying, engineering and consultancy services companies, offering extensive expertise as well as a deep pool of international talent.