Thailand selected to host IDF World Diabetes Congress 2025 in Bangkok

Thailand has been chosen to host the IDF World Diabetes Congress 2025, one of the world’s largest conferences on diabetes. It comes to the Southeast Asia region for the first time and is a boost to Thailand’s strategy towards becoming a global Medical Hub. The Congress in 2025 is forecast to attract 10,000 participants from around the world, generating over 420m baht (US$12m) in revenue for the country. Mr Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, president of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), revealed that TCEB, in collaboration with the Diabetes Association of Thailand under the royal patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, had won its bid for the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) World Diabetes Congress in 2025 (IDF 2025). “This is a great opportunity for Thailand to host a world-class medical conference on diabetes. It also gives the Thai government and private sectors, as well as stakeholders, a platform to co-operate as host and support the organisation of IDF 2025 which will take place, 7-10 April, 2025, at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center (BITEC),” he said. The successful bid to host the IDF 2025, Chiruit said, aligned with the country’s 20-year strategy to promote Thailand as medical hub, one of the five industries of the future with high potential to drive the economy for the future of Thailand. The Congress is also forecast to help generate about 800m baht in economic stimulus, contribute to GDP by approximately 440m baht, creating employment for approximately 560 jobs, and generating about 27m baht in tax revenue. The Congress is held every two years in member country/territory and rotates across continents. Dr Narong Saiwong, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, said that In Thailand there are about 300,000 new cases of diabetes per year and that the estimated healthcare expenditure for treating diabetes in the country is as high as 47,596m baht per year. Chiruit added that TCEB is running a campaign ‘Thailand MICE to Meet You Year 2023’ to stimulate the economy and drive Thailand towards being a world-class MICE destination. This year, he said, Thailand was targeting to welcome a total of 18.5m MICE travellers, generating 109bn baht in revenue for the country.