During 19 – 21 March 2015, H.E. Chirachai Punkrasin, Ambassador of Thailand to Australia, along with almost 80 Heads of Diplomatic Mission, visited South Australia on a trip hosted by the Hon. Julie Bishop, Minister for Foreign Affairs. During the visit, the delegation met with the Hon. Hieu Van Le, Governor of South Australia, the Hon. Jay Weatherill, Premier of South Australia, and leading businessmen of the state.

 

            The visit provided an opportunity for the delegation to learn of the vast potential of South Australia, the Hon. Bishop’s state of origin, particularly as the centre of high-value agriculture. The delegation visited the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), received briefing on the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) which puts Australia’s agricultural innovation system to improve the productivity and profitability of agricultural systems in the Asia-Pacific countries especially the Pacific Islands, and met with local producers and sampled agricultural products at the South Australian Trade Fair. On the last day, the Head of Diplomatic Missions visited the Kangaroo Island and were briefed on the success of ecotourism and conservation in the area.