Bangkok and Fukuoka Cooperate to Develop Youth Capacity in Creating Social Business Models for Sustainable Urban Development

Bangkok, in cooperation with Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, organized activities under the Specialized Youth Exchange Program (SYEP 2026), Phase 3, in Fukuoka Prefecture during 8 - 13 February 2026. The program aimed to enhance youth capacity in social entrepreneurship and creative thinking to address contemporary urban challenges.

SYEP 2026 is organized to strengthen people-to-people relations under Friendship Agreement  between Bangkok and Fukuoka Prefecture, which were formally established on 8 February 2006. The two cities have implemented the Specialized Youth Exchange Program since 2015. In 2026, the program was conducted under the theme “Business Models for City Solutions” and implemented in three phases:

(1) online preparatory learning,

(2) workshops and field visits with Fukuoka youth in Bangkok, and

(3) workshops and field visits in Fukuoka Prefecture.

The program provided opportunities for youth from both cities to learn about urban issues, develop creative social business models, gain practical insights from social entrepreneurs, and strengthen their skills in presenting project ideas to a public panel.

During the visit to Fukuoka Prefecture, the youth gained first-hand experience from both public and private sector organizations. They learned about social enterprise operations and exchanged perspectives on entrepreneurship with the President and Founder of Borderless Japan. In addition, a case study from LIB Jewelry shared experience in building a contemporary brand and operating a pearl jewelry business in Japan, which sources pearls from farms in India to support employment for local workers before developing the products for the Japanese market.

The youth also participated in workshops on business models for urban development at Fukuoka Growth Next (FGN), a center that supports young entrepreneurs. They further joined learning activities at CIC, a hub supporting startup and innovation development in Fukuoka. These activities allowed the participants to observe concrete approaches to supporting young entrepreneurs at the city level.

On this occasion, Dr. Lertluck Leelaruangsang, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Bangkok, led the youth delegation and Bangkok officials on courtesy visits to senior executives of Fukuoka Prefecture, including the Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture, the Vice Chairperson of the Prefectural Assembly, and the Consul-General in Fukuoka. The visits aimed to further strengthen the long-standing sister-city relationship and to exchange views on promoting youth participation in driving public policy through business-based approaches.

Youth Innovation: Final Project Presentations

A key highlight of the program was the final project presentations by three youth groups to a panel of experts and the Consul-General at the multi-purpose hall of Fukuoka Growth Next (FGN), as follows:

• Group A presented a social business model aimed at improving the quality of life of older persons through job creation and income generation from community-based food and service activities.
• Group B presented a business model focused on creating employment and income opportunities for persons with disabilities by enabling participation in digital and support work, together with skills development necessary for employment, thereby promoting economic inclusion of vulnerable groups in urban society.
• Group C presented a business model aimed at supporting youth in urban communities by providing learning spaces and vocational skills training, alongside income generation through the production and sale of handicrafts and creative products, enabling youth to develop their potential and earn income from practical work.

The successful implementation of SYEP 2026 not only contributed to the development of youth competencies in entrepreneurship and analytical thinking, but also strengthened cross-cultural cooperation networks, which will serve as an important foundation for the development of inclusive and livable cities. Bangkok intends to further develop these business model concepts as alternative approaches to addressing urban challenges in the long term.

#SYEP  #SYEP2026   #BANGKOK   #FUKUOKA  #IAO  #BMA

Bangkok, in cooperation with Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, organized activities under the Specialized Youth Exchange Program (SYEP 2026), Phase 3, in Fukuoka Prefecture during 8 - 13 February 2026. The program aimed to enhance youth capacity in social entrepreneurship and creative thinking to address contemporary urban challenges. SYEP 2026 is organized to strengthen people-to-people relations under Friendship Agreement between Bangkok and Fukuoka Prefecture, which were formally established on 8 February 2006. The two cities have implemented the Specialized Youth Exchange Program since 2015. In 2026,

Bangkok and Fukuoka Cooperate to Develop Youth Capacity in Creating Social Business Models for Sustainable Urban Development