Katoey Economy: From Visibility to Ownership in Asia’s Next Growth Engine

A Familiar Word, A Forgotten System

In Thailand, the word “katoey” is widely heard — but rarely understood in its full economic context. While transgender people are celebrated in beauty contests or performance spaces, they remain structurally excluded from legal recognition, equitable healthcare, and real economic power.

The Katoey Economy reframes this — not as identity politics, but as a strategy for inclusive economic growth. It dares to ask: what if transgender people were no longer merely visible — but owned the means of production, led enterprises, and shaped policy?

From Consumer to Creator: A New Economic Role

Historically, trans people in Thailand have been pushed into roles as consumers, service workers, or informal earners. But today, they are becoming entrepreneurs, CEOs, and strategic advisors.

This shift is urgent. According to Open for Business, LGBTQIAN+ exclusion costs Thailand up to THB 121 billion (USD 3.5 billion) annually. Conversely, inclusion pays off — each legal right granted increases GDP per capita by USD 1,694, and diverse companies outperform by 21%.

What We’re Building: Systems, Not Symbols

At TransTalents Consulting Group, we don’t just train for inclusion — we design systems. As consultants to the Thai government’s WorldPride 2030 feasibility study, we are embedding LGBTQIAN+ equity into national strategy. This includes:

• Inclusive procurement policies

• Trans-owned enterprise support

• Healthcare access as economic infrastructure

• Policy platforms led by trans professionals

Because hormones are not cosmetic — they are tools for productivity and dignity.

Katoey Economy Is Not a Show — It’s a Structure

The Katoey Economy is not about going viral. It’s not about views, followers, or fitting into beauty norms. It’s about creating a future where trans people don’t have to fight for space — they own it.

It is the evolution from ผู้บริโภค (consumer) → ผู้ให้บริการ (service provider) → ผู้ประกอบการ (entrepreneur) → ผู้ออกแบบนโยบาย (policy shaper).

The Real Risk? Failing to Invest.

Trans people are not a vulnerable group. We are an untapped engine of growth.

The question is no longer whether trans people are ready to lead.
It’s whether Thailand — and Asia — are ready to invest not in visibility, but in ownership, infrastructure, and power.

TAG: DEI Inclusion Transtalents empowerment