CONTINUING his diplomatic mission in Thailand, Special Envoy Bran Reluao participated in the 2025 edition of the Japan-ASEAN Startup Business Matching Fair, a platform that championed different enterprises in Japan and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states.
Held at Siam Kempinski Hotel in Bangkok on June 26, the Japan-ASEAN Startup Business Matching Fair 2025 was a collaboration between the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Bank, the Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri Bank), and Security Bank.
The event aimed at promoting trade, investment, innovation exchange, and industrial cooperation across the region. It also reflected Japan and the ASEAN member states’ commitment to boosting economic ties and building a resilient and advanced regional economy.
According to the Philippine Embassy in Thailand, over 200 large investor companies and more than 50 startups from eight countries were featured at the event. These include Business-to-Business Software-as-a-Service (B2B SaaS) company Sprout Solutions and indoor navigation platform Duon Wayfinding.
In an Instagram post, Reluao said he was honored to be part of the Japan-ASEAN Startup Business Matching Fair 2025, which showcased Filipino innovation on the global stage.
“Our homegrown startups are not just participating—they’re leading with purpose, creativity, and impact,” the Gen Z special envoy wrote.
Reluao also highlighted the importance of the event for Japan and the ASEAN member states, which aligned with their “shared vision of regional integration and sustainable development.”
“Grateful for the opportunity to take part in this important initiative and to learn from key players shaping our region’s future,” he said.
During the event, Reluao was joined by Akanat Promphan, Minister of Industry of Thailand, and Otaka Masato, Ambassador of Japan to Thailand. He thanked the two officials for their continued support in deepening ASEAN-Japan collaboration.
Meeting with CSII
Later in the day, Reluao attended a meeting with the management team of the Chulalongkorn University School of Integrated Innovation (CSII), led by Executive Director Prof. Suchada Sukrong, Ph.D.
The Philippine Embassy in Thailand said the meeting highlighted academia’s vital role in ”igniting and nurturing the startup ecosystem” and “expanding Thailand’s digital economy.”
Talks also centered on efforts to transform educational institutions and teaching methodologies to keep up with the ever-evolving technology landscape.
Moreover, the meeting touched on the CSII’s four-year international degree program, the Bachelor of Arts and Science in Integrated Innovation (BAScii), which equips students with essential technical, business, and transdisciplinary skills.
“We were so amazed by how the program is driven by technology, creativity, and bold thinking — preparing a new generation of leaders ready to solve real-world challenges through innovation,” said Reluao on Instagram.
Student and faculty exchanges between CSII and Philippine universities were also proposed in the meeting for future collaboration.
