Thai Ambassador Highlights Economic Ties at Australia-ASEAN Business Forum

On 29 September 2026, H.E. Ms. Arjaree Sriratanaban, Ambassador of Thailand to Australia, participated in the Australia, ASEAN Business Forum 2026 (AABF 2026) in Adelaide. She joined a panel discussion titled “Mobilising Investment Across Australia and ASEAN,” where she highlighted the strong ties between Thailand and Australia, including shared commitments to deepen economic engagement and expand partnerships. The Ambassador noted the recent visit of the Thai Prime Minister to Australia in August 2026, which added momentum to collaboration in sectors like clean energy, food security, and digital economy.

Ms. Sriratanaban emphasized Thailand’s efforts to improve its investment environment and ease of doing business, aiming for OECD membership by 2028. She encouraged greater use of existing agreements, such as the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) and the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), to facilitate trade and investment. The newly concluded ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) was also mentioned as a tool to support regional digital trade.

The AABF 2026 brought together senior government and business representatives from Australia and ASEAN. Notable participants included the Honourable Chris Picton MP, Minister for State Development of South Australia, and executives from leading Thai companies like Amora Hotels and Resorts and CPF Australia. Earlier, on 28 September 2026, the Governor of South Australia hosted a reception for AABF speakers and panellists at Government House.