In a display of international camaraderie, a high-profile delegation from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) set their sights on the enchanting City of Light. The troupe was a dignified ensemble, led by Torsak Chotimongkol, esteemed Chairman of the Advisers to the Governor of Bangkok. Alongside him were notable figures like Sanon Wangsrangboon, the Deputy Governor; Pornphrom Vikitsreth, the Governor’s Adviser and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO); and Kunanop Lertpraiwan, the Assistant Secretary to the Governor. They were supported by the astute officials from the BMA’s International Affairs Office, all with one aim in mind: to acquire insights, inspiration, and potential collaborations with the forward-thinking city of Paris and its partner AFD.
Paris rolled out the red carpet as the delegation dove into a schedule brimming with knowledge exchange and exploration of a myriad of urban development marvels across Paris and the wider Île-de-France region. The AFD had neatly stitched together a tapestry of meetings with city executives, scholars, industry mavens, and representatives from both the public and private sectors, alongside non-profit entities and innovation powerhouses—all abuzz to tackle urban challenges.
At the forefront of discussions was the passionate pursuit of sustainable urban planning, resilient infrastructure, and smart strategies to adapt to climate change. These dialogues paved the way for demos of practical models, ripe for weaving into future collaborative ventures. Generously, AFD picked up the tab to facilitate this cross-continental tête-à-tête.
On the pleasantly sunny day of April 23, 2025, the BMA team found themselves engaged in riveting discussions with the Société des Grands Projets (SGP) and La Fabrique du Métro. They were ushered into the world of national rail innovations, particularly the Grand Paris Express—a grand vision of orbital metro mastery threading its loops around Paris.
The Grand Paris Express stands as a beacon of futuristic planning—a sandbox of architectural blueprints and virtual models of avant-garde stations, upgrades for disabled accessibility, construction practices reducing carbon footprints, and the avant-garde technology fueling next-gen subway systems. This initiative is much more than just a transit project—it’s the bedrock of a sustainable, interlinked future metropolitan tapestry.
The delegation then made a strategic stop at the Saint-Denis Pleyel station, nestled within the swiftly metamorphosing district of Saint-Denis in northern Paris. Slated to be a central interchange for four major metro lines (14, 15, 16, and 17), this station is gearing up to handle a staggering 250,000 passengers daily.
In another eye-opening session, the BMA heads convened with Pierre Rabadan, the vivacious Deputy Mayor of Paris, and a squad from the Atelier Parisien d’Urbanisme (APUR). Their discussion orbited around breathing life into metropolises through greenery and bolstering urban resilience against climate quirks. APUR’s urban maestros introduced the enchanting “Plan Canopée,” aspiring to usher in over 30 hectares of verdant canopies and greenery by 2030, converting drab rooftops and public areas into lush oases. The environmental, wellness, and mental health boons of such verdant endeavors were analyzed with gusto.
Taking innovation to their feet, Rabadan guided the BMA entourage on a strolling tour of a freshly invigorated arterial street, now a “rue végétalisée” or green street. These urban nooks are flanked with thriving plant life, sustainable pedestrian paths, and vibrant floral displays as a tender balm against the city’s heat.
The grand finale of the visit featured a rendezvous with Paris’s Urban Cooling Operator, a conclave focused on dispensing urban-scale sustainable energy wisdom, centered on the Réseau de froid, the city’s sprawling district cooling miracle. Among Europe’s finest, this marvel cools Paris’s extensive urban landscape using the Seine River’s natural wonders. Through a network of thermal exchanges and subterranean conduits, this system trickles sustainable cooling to over 700 landmarks—including the Louvre Museum, hospitals, offices, and shopping centers.
The BMA’s intellectual hunger was sated further with a tour of the cooling system’s bustling control center, rendering live tableau of temperature, energy analytics, and environmental quality metrics. In visiting Paris, the BMA team not only found partners but encountered kindred spirits on a mutual quest for a greener, cooler tomorrow. #BMA #Bangkok #Paris #Sustainability #UrbanInnovation #GreenFuture #CoolTech
This is an amazing initiative! Bangkok looking to Paris for sustainable innovation is a smart move. More cities should follow suit.
Sure, it’s a nice gesture, but let’s be real. These kinds of meetings often result in lots of talk and little action.
You might be right about some talks, but collaboration can lead to real change. Look at Paris’s urban cooling system!
True, but the Grand Paris Express could be a game changer for any city endeavoring sustainable growth.
The Grand Paris Express is truly a visionary project. Here’s hoping Bangkok adopts some of these groundbreaking ideas.
I wish our city officials focused more on immediate concerns like traffic and pollution rather than these grand international ideas.
Perhaps they see these meetings as a way to address those very issues, by learning from another city’s solutions.
As a Paris resident, I can tell you that these projects do wonders for quality of life. It’s exciting to see Bangkok interested in them.
It’s exciting, yes, but I worry it’s just superficial politics. Will it help the everyday lives of Bangkok citizens?
Well, real change takes time. If Bangkok integrates even a part of these ideas, it could lead to significant improvements.
I am thrilled to see green initiatives being prioritized on an urban level. Plan Canopée sounds like a fantastic step forward!
Back in my day, we didn’t need all this fancy technology. Whatever happened to simple living and respecting nature?
Respectfully, times have changed. Urban populations have exploded, and we need innovative solutions for sustainable living.
The use of Seine River for cooling is genius! I hope Bangkok can replicate such innovative solutions with the Chao Phraya River.
Yet another tour of fancy ideas to distract from real local issues in Bangkok. Our local culture is being ignored.
Cultural identity is important, but integrating international insights doesn’t negate our heritage—it can enrich it.
Exactly, it’s about progress and keeping up with global trends to improve our local environment.
I wonder how much these trips cost and if that money might be better spent on local projects.
Networking with international cities like Paris paves the path for building partnerships that can fund local projects too.
I believe initiatives like these showcase how cities can creatively combat climate change. Bravo to both cities!
I dream of a world where every city is a lush green paradise. Go BMA and Paris for getting one step closer to that vision.
As great as this visit sounds, I’m curious how these ideas will actually be implemented in Bangkok’s context.
We’ve got to keep harnessing technology if we’re going to make our cities future-proof and sustainable.