Three-Organization Collaboration: OKMD, DAD, and Inthanin Unveil “Read Café,” Thailand’s First Café Learning Space

The "Read Café," a collaboration between the Office of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD), Dhanarak Asset Development (DAD), and Bangchak Group’s Inthanin Coffee, is now officially open. This initiative introduces Thailand's first learning space within a coffee shop, promoting reading for all ages through an online platform that offers free access to over 10,000 learning materials for members.

Read Café, The Government Complex, 24 September 2024 – Dr. Twarath Sutabutr, President of OKMD, together with Dr. Nalikatibhag Sangsnit, Director and Secretary of DAD, Gloyta Nathalang, Senior Executive Vice President, Sustainability Management and Corporate Communications, Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited, and Yosatorn Arunyanart, Managing Director of Bangchak Retail Company Limited, unveiled the "Read Café" at Parking Building D, The Government Complex (Chaeng Watthana). The project follows a collaboration agreement signed on 4 January and took over eight months to complete.

Dr. Twarath explained that the "Read Café" aims to elevate knowledge for the digital age, which is a key mission of OKMD in promoting lifelong learning. The initiative seeks to foster a public learning process by offering knowledge services in a contemporary learning space, cultivating a reading culture, and enhancing creativity. OKMD partnered with DAD and Bangchak Retail to create an Inthanin Coffee shop with an open and welcoming café style, blending the atmosphere of a café with access to learning materials.

The OKMD Director highlighted that the "Read Café" offers a seamless reading and learning experience by providing modern knowledge services through an online platform like TK Read, TK Park's digital library application. This platform offers access to a vast collection of e-books, audiobooks, e-magazines, and online courses, all available for free to registered members. The digital library features over 10,000 items across various categories, regularly updated to match current reading trends, particularly appealing to younger generations. The TK Read app already boasts 592,557 members and over 1,994,725 user visits, with more than 1,146,634 items borrowed and returned in 2023-2024. The expansion of these services to the "Read Café" will increase access to knowledge and create new business opportunities. The café represents a modern learning experience, merging technology with a reader-friendly environment, making learning both enjoyable and easily accessible.

Dr. Nalikatibhag expressed that the "Read Café" prototype has elevated the development of a 50-square-meter space on the 2nd floor of the Parking Building D, part of The Government Complex Commemorating His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary. This project serves the public by promoting a learning society in the digital age, fostering reading and creativity in a contemporary setting for all ages. He extended gratitude to OKMD for being a driving force behind the project and emphasized that DAD’s mission is to enhance the value of state assets for economic and social development through transparent operations and good governance principles, which will lead to sustainable management and national development.

Gloyta added, "As Bangchak celebrates its 40th anniversary, we have carried out various projects under the concept of 'Regenerative Happiness' to create a sustainably happy society. The collaboration between Inthanin Coffee, OKMD, and DAD to open the 'Read Café' as a space for learning and reading is a perfect blend of multidimensional happiness. It provides a unique experience for coffee lovers and readers alike, offering a space for people of all ages to gather, enjoy, and foster a love for learning. Building a sustainable society starts with cultivating a passion for knowledge, and projects like 'Read Café' play a key role in that."

Yosatorn expressed his pleasure at being part of this initiative to promote learning for the public, stating, “Bangchak and Bangchak Retail, on behalf of Inthanin, are honored to be part of this project through a specially designed Inthanin location that aligns with the objectives of elevating knowledge into the digital age. This initiative increases accessibility and promotes reading for people of all ages, in line with the government’s policy of utilizing state assets to benefit the public. This Read Café and Inthanin are ready to provide a quality experience to all customers through our delicious beverages, snacks, and ready-to-eat meals, along with standardized services that cater to book lovers and the daily users of this modern parking facility. This reflects Bangchak and Inthanin’s dedication to promoting businesses that are friendly to everyone, regardless of gender or age, by creating a space that can foster a better society in the future.”