Paris: The Prime Minister of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul, has issued directives to "Team Thailand Europe" to drive proactive diplomacy aimed at fostering opportunities and benefits for the Thai populace. He emphasized collaboration with various agencies in "clusters" to advance the Thailand-European Union Free Trade Agreement.
According to Thai News Agency, during a meeting held at the Salle Foch room in Le Cercle de L'Union Interralliee building in Paris, Prime Minister Anutin, alongside Deputy Prime Ministers, ministers, and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, engaged with ambassadors and consuls general from 24 European countries. This marked the first such meeting of its kind, where the Prime Minister exchanged views and received feedback on policy implementation, with discussions extending over three hours.
Key outcomes from the meeting, as revealed by Ms. Rachada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, include the acceleration of the Thailand-EU Free Trade Agreement. The Prime Minister highlighted the significance of this agreement for reducing tariff and trade barriers, thereby facilitating the entry of high-quality Thai products into the European market. He indicated that the government is restructuring its operations to integrate all agencies into a "cluster" format to expedite these negotiations. Ambassadors noted Thailand's renewed prominence as an "economic partner" poised to strengthen the global supply chain.
Additionally, the Prime Minister outlined a "Diplomacy 2.0" approach, focusing on proactive diplomacy across security, economic, social, environmental, and humanitarian areas. The strategy aims for tangible outcomes that directly benefit the people. The government is preparing to welcome trade and investment, enhancing infrastructure and human resources, and promoting clean energy to support future industries.
Moreover, the government is working to upgrade national laws and standards to align with OECD standards, with a target to achieve this within three years. The Prime Minister also discussed Thailand's strengths in food and future energy security, highlighting its potential as a regional leader in food security.
Thailand is set to host several global events, including Gastech 2026, the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings 2026, and the Global Wellness Summit. These events are expected to spotlight Thailand on the global stage. The Prime Minister urged the Royal Thai Embassy and Consulates General to leverage these opportunities to enhance Thailand's image and attract investment.
In his concluding remarks, the Prime Minister reiterated Thailand's readiness to serve as a strategic regional hub, supported by political stability, investment-ready infrastructure, and a dynamic private sector. He expressed confidence that with coordinated efforts from the government, private sector, BOI, and Thai Embassies in Europe, Thailand will achieve its national strategic goals and secure a prominent position on the global stage.