Bangkok:Thailand is fully prepared to host the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Board of Governors Meeting (AM2026), with all necessary arrangements in place, including clear designated routes and meeting areas. Despite some areas in Bangkok experiencing flooding, the main venues and routes remain unaffected.
According to Thai News Agency, international media reports of flooding in Bangkok have raised concerns about the confidence of participants in the AM2026 conference. However, Mr. Vinit Visetsuwannapoom, Director of the Fiscal Policy Office, alongside representatives from the Meteorological Department and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, assured that the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, the 21 hotels, and the routes from the airport to the conference venue are free of flooding. They have implemented emergency and evacuation plans, with a 24-hour monitoring system in place.
The government has taken several measures to ensure smooth operations during the conference. Pumping stations at the convention center are ready to drain water into Khlong Saen Saep canal if needed, and major drainage tunnels and roads have been cleaned. High-risk areas such as Wat Pathum Wanaram Ratchaworawihan, the Police Hospital, and sections of Sukhumvit have been identified, with rapid response units prepared to handle potential rainfall.
To reduce traffic congestion, the government has declared Friday, October 16th, a special public holiday in Bangkok and has instructed government agencies to work from home on October 12th, 14th, and 15th. Free shuttle services will transport attendees from the convention center to various shopping malls and tourist attractions. Public transportation, including the MRT and BMTA buses, will operate as usual, and motorcycle taxis and delivery riders will continue to function under regulations.
In line with a Green Meeting policy, electric vehicles will be used to transport senior executives and global financial representatives. Agencies have also conducted drills to ensure that participants can travel from their hotels to the convention center within 30 minutes. To facilitate traffic and ensure security, over 1,200 police officers will be deployed during the conference.