Bangkok: The Cabinet has officially designated October 16th as a special holiday exclusively for Bangkok, aiming to reduce traffic congestion during the World Financial Conference. The decision comes alongside an order for three days of work-from-home arrangements to further alleviate traffic during the World Bank and IMF's significant meetings.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced the Cabinet's approval of adjustments to the national committee's structure in preparation for the 2026 annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. This includes declaring October 16, 2026, as a special public holiday in Bangkok and directing government agencies in the city to implement a Work from Home policy on October 12, 14, and 15.
The Cabinet has also advised state enterprises, financial institutions, educational institutions, and private sector entities near the conference venue to consider implementing measures that align with local conditions and operational needs. Agencies with essential duties or pre-existing public service commitments are urged to make necessary adjustments as deemed appropriate by their leaders.
These measures are intended to mitigate traffic issues, facilitate smooth travel, and ensure security for finance ministers and central bank governors from participating nations. It is anticipated that more than 15,000 finance officials, including central bank governors and executives from global financial institutions, as well as academics from 190 countries, will attend the conference in Thailand.