On October 30, 2026, the International Schools Association of Thailand (ISAT), led by our President, Mrs. Usa Somboon, met with Mrs. Suphajee Suthumpun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, and senior Ministry officials at the Ministry of Commerce to discuss strategies for expanding Thailand’s education services into international markets and positioning the country as a regional hub for international education.

The discussion focused on the potential of Thailand’s international education sector as a high-value service export that can generate economic benefits well beyond the education industry itself. Attracting international students and their families to Thailand creates demand across a wide range of related sectors, including accommodation, food, tourism, transportation, and other services. This presents an opportunity to attract foreign spending, support local businesses, create employment, and generate additional economic activity throughout the country.

Government Support for International Education Exports

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce recognised the high standards and strong potential of Thailand’s international education sector, highlighting its capacity to contribute to the country's economic growth.

The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) expressed its readiness to support the sector's international expansion through overseas trade promotion activities, business-matching opportunities, and the use of international conferences and events hosted in Thailand to showcase the country's education services to prospective international markets.

The Ministry of Commerce and DITP will also work with ISAT to explore concrete initiatives to promote and expand Thailand’s education services in overseas markets.

ISAT’s Vision: Positioning Thailand as a Regional Education Hub

During the meeting, ISAT highlighted its current membership of 207 international schools, serving approximately 89,000 students nationwide. The Association aims to increase student enrollment across the sector to 120,000 within the next four years, while exploring opportunities to attract more international students and expand into promising overseas markets.

The discussion also recognised the importance of connecting education with wider social opportunities, including the support of Thai students through government scholarships for overseas study in collaboration with the Equitable Education Fund (EEF).

This engagement marks an important step towards strengthening cooperation between ISAT and the Ministry of Commerce. By promoting Thailand’s international education capabilities to the global market, ISAT aims to contribute to the growth of education service exports, attract international investment and spending, and reinforce Thailand’s position as a destination for high-quality international education.