A delegation of executives from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has undertaken a study visit to Paris to examine advanced waste management, urban development, and air quality monitoring systems.

The visit included high-level meetings with French agencies, site visits, and discussions on potential collaborations aimed at enhancing sustainability in Bangkok.

Waste Management and Energy Recovery

The BMA delegation visited a major waste treatment facility operated by Syctom, Europe’s largest waste management organisation. Syctom manages waste for more than six million residents in Paris and nearby areas, focusing on waste separation, recycling, energy recovery, and integrated management systems. The BMA is assessing these models for adoption in Bangkok to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impacts in the Thai capital.

Urban Planning and South Sukhumvit Development

Discussions were held with representatives from the Institut Paris Region (IPR), a research institute specializing in metropolitan development. The dialogue covered long-term urban planning strategies and explored collaboration opportunities, particularly for the South Sukhumvit area in Bangkok. Initiatives discussed include expanding green spaces and enhancing public transport connectivity.

Technology Transfer and Smart Mobility

The delegation also met with representatives from Business France’s network of French companies to explore investment and technology transfer opportunities in urban development. Potential areas of collaboration include improving air quality, promoting eco-friendly transport methods such as soft mobility, implementing smart mobility technologies, and enhancing flood management infrastructure.

Air Quality Monitoring and Data Management

The BMA team held a session with Karine Léger, Managing Director of Airparif, Paris’s independent air quality monitoring agency. They visited “La Station de Mesure des Halles,” a real-time air and temperature monitoring station that is part of a broader network supporting environmental policymaking in Paris. Bangkok previously partnered with Airparif during the 2023 AIRLAB Microsensors Challenge to develop innovative air quality monitoring solutions.

Riverbank Development and Public Space Enhancement

On April 26, 2025, the BMA delegation toured the Seine River’s developed banks alongside Bertrand Walckenaer, Deputy CEO of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and members of the Thai community in Paris. The visit focused on how the public space along the river has been transformed to improve health, accessibility, and urban connectivity.

The series of meetings and site visits highlights ongoing efforts to apply international urban management practices to Bangkok’s development goals in sustainability, mobility, and environmental health.