Bangkok International Digital Content Festival 2024 (BIDC) is the largest digital content festival in Thailand, continuing for the 11th year through an integrated collaboration of the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), and five industry associations in digital content: the Thai Animation and Computer Graphics Association (TACGA), the E-Learning Association of Thailand (E-LAT), the Digital Content Association of Thailand (DCAT), the Bangkok ACM SIGGRAPH Association (BASA), and the Thai Game Software Industry Association (TGA). This collaboration aims to drive the industry and elevate Thai digital content for sustainable growth, enhancing its potential on the global stage. The festival will also facilitate trade negotiations between Thai entrepreneurs and over 110 leading companies from around the world, the largest number ever recorded, with an expected value exceeding 800 million baht. Additionally, there will be onsite and online seminars covering 12 topics, including the presentation of the BIDC Awards to 29 outstanding Thai entrepreneurs, which will be announced during the opening ceremony at the True 5G Pro Hub. This event is expected to attract the largest number of participants from the digital content industry, including games, animation, character design, CG, VFX, and e-learning. BIDC 2024 is scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 8, 2024.

During the opening ceremony of BIDC 2024, Mr. Phusit Rattanakul Serirangrit, Director-General of the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce, stated that DITP, as the agency responsible for promoting international trade, is committed to creating opportunities for business negotiations and trade networks to enhance the competitiveness of Thai digital content entrepreneurs. This year, DITP has implemented 18 projects to promote digital content in the global market, generating over 12 billion baht in value. The event aligns with the policy of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai, to utilize cultural creative power or "soft power" to position Thailand as a hub for the digital content industry and a leader in IP in Asia, pushing Thailand to become a source for high-level outsourcing and a key industry driving the Thai economy in the future.

For BIDC 2024, the department continues to support business matching activities and business networking scheduled for August 5-7, 2024, which are crucial for connecting Thai entrepreneurs with business partners from around the world. This year, 73 Thai companies and 42 target companies from 10 countries will participate, totaling over 110 companies, the largest number ever. More than 540 trade meetings have already been scheduled, with an expected value exceeding 800 million baht. Additionally, the department will facilitate visits for foreign entrepreneurs to leading Thai digital content companies to showcase the capabilities of Thai entrepreneurs.

Ms. Harisuda Boonyawat, Director of Mega Event Development and International Festival at the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), stated that TCEB, as a government agency with a mission to develop and elevate international festivals in Thailand, aims for this festival to serve as a platform for the digital content industry's business networking, contributing to the country's economic growth. BIDC 2024 aligns with TCEB's mission to develop and elevate international festivals in Thailand, and has received continuous support since its inception 11 years ago. TCEB has also conducted an economic impact study revealing that BIDC has generated over 1.5 billion baht in GDP impact, with the government collecting over 240 million baht in taxes and creating over 11,000 jobs. Furthermore, BIDC has played a role in enhancing and developing the capabilities of Thai people, in line with the organizers' intentions and the Soft Power policy to promote digital content as a key industry driving the creative economy.

Mr. Chatchai Khunpitilak, Deputy Director-General of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), mentioned that the overall digital content industry is projected to continue growing, with a total value expected to reach 44.983 billion baht by 2025. This year, depa has launched projects to promote the digital content industry, particularly in games and esports, which have garnered significant interest from Thai game developers. These initiatives are expected to drive the industry forward. depa aims for BIDC 2024 to remain a key platform for business opportunities for Thai digital content entrepreneurs in games, animation, CG, VFX, character design, and e-learning through various activities, including the announcement of the Global Achievement Awards in three categories, selected by association members based on individuals or entities that have made significant contributions to the digital content industry, elevating Thai digital content to a global level. Congratulations to the award recipients in the Game category: Mr. Nenin Ananbanchaichai; in the Animation category: Ms. Atchara Kijakarnjanas; and in the Visual Effect category: The Monk Studios.

Representatives from the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), led by Mr. Isara Piamphongsant, an expert in promoting creative industry networks, stated that at BIDC 2024, CEA will support the development of creative labor and enhance the capabilities of entrepreneurs in producing quality works that can sustainably grow the country's economy. In 2024, CEA plans to develop the creative content industry, focusing on skill enhancement and necessary capabilities while promoting access to job markets through presentation activities, business negotiations, and networking. This year, there will be business opportunity activities for entry-level professionals in the game and animation industries for export to the international market, including the announcement of the Rising Star Awards in four categories: Game, Animation, Character Design, and Illustration. Winners will receive a trophy, and the top three finalists in each category will have the opportunity to present their work and network with leading Thai and international digital content entrepreneurs. This event is scheduled for August 6, 2024.

As a representative of the industry for organizing BIDC 2024 and President of the Thai Animation and Computer Graphics Association (TACGA), Mr. Kritsana Na Lamliang expressed pride that the Bangkok International Digital Content Festival 2024 (BIDC 2024) is entering its 11th year as Thailand's largest digital content festival, resulting from the collaboration of five industry associations and support from the government. This year, the festival will take place from July 24 to August 8, 2024, with today marking the opening ceremony and the announcement of the BIDC Awards, Rising Star Awards (CEA), and Global Achievement Awards (depa), totaling 29 awards. The seminar activities will feature esteemed international speakers, including the 2024 Global Licensing Industry Study by licensing expert Mr. Tani Wong [Managing Director (Licensing International), China & Southeast Asia] and the topic: GenAI in Animation, VFX, Video Games: a French perspective by Mr. Quentin Auger, Co-Founder & Head of Innovation of the Parisian studio DADA! Animation. We thank TCEB for supporting this keynote session.

From July 25 to 28, there will be online seminars featuring internationally renowned speakers, supported by the Digital Economy and Society Council of Thailand (DCT), covering topics such as Indy Game Marketing in 2024 by Chris Zukowski, a game marketing consultant and strategist from Return To Adventure Mountain, LLC; Character & Personal Branding Trends by Sukrit Jitjhop [Creative and Art Director - Kenji Technology Limited / Kenji Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd.]; and Empowering Educators with Next-Generation Digital Learning Tools by Mr. Kelvin Loh [CEO - eLearningMinds Group Sdn. Bhd.]. Interested participants can register or follow updates at https://www.facebook.com/bidc.fest.

Additionally, important activities will take place from August 5 to 8, 2024, at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, including Business Networking to create business networks between Thai and foreign entrepreneurs for trade negotiations. A highlight of BIDC is the business negotiations between Thai entrepreneurs and leading digital content entrepreneurs from around the world. This year, there will also be Business Pitching and Networking Sessions between the final 12 Rising Star Awards candidates and participating entrepreneurs at BIDC 2024. The event will conclude with a special activity this year: Studio Visits, where foreign entrepreneurs will visit leading Thai studios in both gaming and animation. The organizing team expresses gratitude for the continuous support from the government to make the Bangkok International Digital Content Festival 2024 a platform showcasing the potential and readiness of the Thai digital content industry on the international stage, leading to market expansion abroad and creating tangible economic value for those in the industry.