Minister of Agriculture Visits Udon Thani to Monitor Preparations for the Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026, Now Over 77% Complete

Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, visited Udon Thani Province to follow up on the progress of preparations for the Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026, scheduled to take place from 1 November 2026 to 14 March 2027 at the Nong Dae Wetlands, Kut Sa Subdistrict, Mueang District, Udon Thani Province. He was accompanied by Mr. Watcharaphon Khaokham, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and the ministry’s executive team. They were welcomed by Mr. Rapeepat Chantharasriwong, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture; Mr. Rachan Sunhua, Governor of Udon Thani Province; and the Horticultural Expo working group.

Mr. Suriya stated that this event marks the world’s first full-scale International Horticultural Exposition held on a wetland, spanning an area of more than 1,030 rai, under the concept “Diversity of Life: Connecting People, Water and Plants for Sustainable Living.” This reflects a modern approach to agricultural development that balances the connections among people, water, plants, ecosystems, technology, and the green economy. He emphasized that all agencies must accelerate their work to complete it on schedule, while maintaining international standards, transparency, and accountability, and generating long-term benefits for the public after the event concludes.

This event is not merely a showcase of horticultural potential, but a means of advancing the “Beyond Horticulture” concept, which connects the green economy, tourism, culture, and sustainable urban development. It also serves to create an important landmark and stands as a great gift to the people of Udon Thani on the occasion of the province’s 134th anniversary, with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives having placed importance on and continuously supported the effort.

As for construction progress, as of May 2026, work has been completed at approximately 77.23% overall, with many major structures nearing completion—including the reception building, the public relations building, the greenhouse building, the main entrance bridge, utility systems, and drainage systems. Only decorative work, systems work, and some landscape architecture remain.

In addition, the Minister underscored four key directives: accelerating construction to keep pace with the plan, maintaining world-class quality standards, managing the budget transparently, and preparing comprehensive systems to accommodate visitors—covering travel, transportation, accommodation, restaurants, safety, and emergency medical services. He stressed that “a world-class event requires readiness not only at the venue, but across the entire city of Udon Thani, which must be prepared to welcome visitors from around the world.”

On the international front, approximately 17 countries and international organizations have so far confirmed their participation in the exhibition, including the United States, China, Mexico, Turkey, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Lao PDR. Domestically, numerous government agencies, private-sector organizations, educational institutions, and professional agricultural bodies are joining to exhibit their knowledge and innovations.

Preliminary estimates anticipate around 3.6 million visitors, generating over 32 billion baht in economic activity, adding more than 20 billion baht to GDP, and creating over 81,000 jobs. The economic benefits will be distributed to hotels, restaurants, local operators, farmers, and the tourism sector in Udon Thani and nearby areas.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is preparing an “Expo Legacy” plan to develop the Nong Dae area after the event into a world-class public park, a water sports center, a youth activity space, an environmental learning center, and a venue for the province’s major activities in the future—so as to deliver sustainable, long-term benefits to the public. The Minister therefore invited the people of Udon Thani and neighboring provinces to be gracious hosts, welcoming visitors from across the nation and around the world to this important world-class event in Thailand warmly and memorably.

Meanwhile, it was noted that the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) had visited the site to follow up on progress and praised the clearly evident advances in the work. AIPH recommended that Thailand expedite the process of recruiting an event director and management team—an important matter following on from construction—and the Minister therefore called on the relevant agencies to proceed promptly, so that operations may be carried out efficiently, completely, and to world-class standards.