From Food to Fashion: What Thailand’s Creative Shift Means for U.S. Investors | Asia Forward | Episode 5

Thailand has long been known as the “Kitchen of the World.” But today, it’s expanding far beyond food.In this episode of Asia Forward, we explore how Thailand is building on decades of success in gastrodiplomacy to grow its broader creative economy—from fashion and design to soft power industries.Host Ledy Simarmata sits down with Ketsuree Vijaranakorn, Executive Director of the Thai Trade Center New York, to unpack how government-backed strategies have helped Thai restaurants flourish worldwide, and how those same playbooks are now being applied to fashion, lifestyle brands, and beyond.From the rise of Thai Select certification to pop-up shops in New York Fashion Week, this conversation looks at how Thailand is connecting culture, commerce, and global markets, and what it means for U.S. businesses and investors.