The Wood Solution Thailand Forum 2026 sets out a phased path through to 2037. Drawing on Sweden's forestry experience and that of its small forest owners, the plan is to build a full value chain - from tree plantations to engineered wood products and modern construction.
Thailand and Sweden have committed to jointly building a sustainable wood industry spanning the entire value chain - from forest plantations to engineered wood products and modern timber construction. The commitment follows a forum in Bangkok that brought together foresters, researchers, industry leaders and government officials from both countries.
The Wood Solution Thailand Forum 2026 was held on 2 June at the Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn and is "the latest stage in a partnership that began in 2022, bringing together the forestry, academic, financial and government sectors," said Thailand's ambassador to Sweden, Arunrung Phothong Humphreys (Arunrung Phothong Humphreys). She opened the event by asking, "Why Sweden?", answering her own question by noting that Sweden offers a strong forestry sector, an advanced wood-processing industry and decades of experience in successfully balancing economic growth with environmental protection.
With relations between the two countries underpinned by a Strategic Partnership agreement, the ambassador described the project as a new model linking local communities to green industries. The initiative traces its origins to cooperation launched in 2022 between the Thailand-Nordic Innovation Unit at the Royal Thai Embassy in Stockholm, the Eco-Innovation Foundation (Eco-Innovation Foundation), the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
Speaking after the ambassador, Emanuel Lundin (Emanuel Lundin), first secretary at the Swedish embassy in Bangkok, described the project as a joint effort to create long-term value from Thailand's currently underused forest resources. He stressed that the development process is just as important as the end result.
Marie Jürisoo (Marie Jürisoo), director of SEI Asia, who led the three-month preparatory phase for the forum, said the process was designed to accelerate the pace of development, deepen stakeholder involvement and identify practical next steps. The morning session focused on the findings of several joint studies analysing Thailand's potential to expand sustainable forestry and timber construction.
Aaron Kaplan (Aaron Kaplan), director of the Eco-Innovation Foundation, pointed to the central question - what this initiative will deliver for Thailand, and whether it can grow from mere research into real development. Researchers and industry representatives stressed that success will require close cooperation between the forestry, education, construction and finance sectors and government.
The discussions repeatedly returned to the argument that this initiative is about more than just building with wood. Speakers kept coming back to the need to build a full ecosystem linking forest owners, processors, manufacturers, investors, architects and policymakers. Drawing on Sweden's experience, participants highlighted the role of small forest owners, describing how family-owned forests have become part of a long-term value chain supported by institutions that ensure fair pricing, certification and market access.
A significant part of the programme was devoted to projects already under way in Thailand - from commercial plantations and engineered wood products to their application in construction. Particular attention was given to the Phrae Sustainable Wood City (Phrae Sustainable Wood City) initiative, which reflects this northern Thai province's historic ties to the country's teak industry and its potential to become a model for wider development.
A special exhibition at the conference showed how far the initiative has spread beyond forestry itself. One stand presented a programme promoting the development of bamboo as an underused commercial resource, while another highlighted the potential of casuarina (Casuarina) - a pine-like tree species - which researchers consider well suited to stabilising erosion-prone coastal areas. Education was also given considerable weight - around 150 master's and doctoral students are currently enrolled in the academic programme in Phrae province, training to become the next generation of forest resource and environmental management specialists.
The exhibition also featured forest product certification systems developed by the Department of Forest Industry Technology, as well as plans by the Hydro-Informatics Institute to expand the existing Water Management School into a broader Water and Forest Management School. Several projects addressed the question of how farmers can earn income during the years while trees are still growing and maturing; these included shellac production - a resin obtained from insects that is later processed into commercial products.
The afternoon programme shifted attention from Thailand's local pioneers working on engineered wood and bamboo use to international experience. Organisations from Sweden and other countries shared examples from regions where sustainable forestry and timber construction have already become well-established industries. Kaplan closed the forum by describing the movement as a process that is still evolving and will require many more stakeholders to join, telling participants: "Today is just a small glimpse of what is still to come."
The roadmap presented at the forum sets out a phased plan through to 2037, taking Thailand from laying groundwork and running pilot projects to scaling up production at an industrial level, with the eventual aim of achieving regional leadership in engineered wood products and timber construction - a horizon for which, in Aaron Kaplan's words, this partnership has only just begun laying the foundations.