On 2 February 2016, Mr. Vitavas Srivihok, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, opened the 10^th Bali Process Ad Hoc Group Senior Officials Meeting at Anantara Siam Hotel, Bangkok. The meeting was co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, together with Australia and Indonesia as Co-Chairs of the Bali Process, in preparation for the next Bali Process Ministerial Conference, which will be held on 23 March 2016 in Bali, Indonesia.

          In his opening remarks, Mr. Srivihok reiterated Thailand’s commitment in cooperating with the Bali Process member states in addressing the issues of irregular migration, people smuggling, and trafficking in persons. He emphasized that irregular migration is a phenomenon that is not unique to any region, but experienced globally at an alarming rate. Thus, stronger regional cooperation to concretely address this issue is needed.  As Thailand is experiencing irregular migration in the Indian Ocean, the Royal Thai Government has given priority in addressing these issues urgently. Thailand has made considerable efforts in addressing the problem and promoting development in countries of origin and stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Bali Process Members in addressing these complex issues.

          On the same occasion, on 1 February 2016, Thailand met with 4 most affected countries from irregular migration in the Indian Ocean, namely Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar and Indonesia as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to follow up on the progress made from the 2^nd Special Meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean held on 3 – 4 December 2015 in Bangkok. The meeting was briefed on developments and efforts undertaken by each country and agency and also discussed a regional information campaign, initiated by Thailand and to be undertaken with the implementation support of IOM. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the risks and danger involved in irregular migration, to promote safe and legal migration and to send a strong message to criminal networks operating in the region of the seriousness of countries involved in combating people smuggling and trafficking in persons.