On 20 August 2018, Mr. Damrong Kraikruan, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, co-chaired the 6th Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, with Ambassador Dr. Anil Sooklal, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, in Pretoria. The meeting was attended by Lt.Jg. Komate Kamalanavin, Ambassador-Designate of Thailand to the Republic of South Africa together with Mr. Geoffrey Quinton Mitchell Doidge, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to Thailand as well as representatives from the Department South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs.

          During the meeting, both sides emphasised the importance of Thailand and South Africa’s strategic partnership and the largest trading partner status for each other. Both sides agreed to concretely drive forward cooperation at all levels such as exchange of high level visits. With regard to the issue of work permit and visa for Thai workers, the South African side expressed readiness to organise a meeting between relevant agencies to resolve the matter. Both sides have also agreed to resolve the problem of market access for agricultural products, to promote trade and investment in both countries, especially in automotive industry and defense industry, as well as to expedite the signing of pending Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 

          Furthermore, both sides exchanged views on a number of cooperation in multilateral frameworks in which Thailand and South Africa play active roles, including South Africa’s leadership as Chair of BRICS and the Indian-Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in 2018 and Thailand’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2019. Thailand also congratulated South Africa for being re-elected as a non-permanent member at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2019 – 2020.

          To commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Thailand and South Africa in 2018, both sides agreed to organise an academic seminar in Bangkok during the second week of December this year. 

          Moreover, on 13 September 2018, Mr. Damrong Kraikruan, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, chaired the meeting to follow up on the outcomes of the 6th SOM. The meeting was attended by representatives of more than 14 agencies from the public and private sectors, such as Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and Thai Airways International Public Company Limited.

          The meeting discussed several areas of Thailand – South Africa bilateral relations; among which included the protection of Thai nationals’ interests in South Africa, especially on the issue of work permit and visa for Thai workers in the service sector (Thai chefs and Thai spa workers). There are currently more than 100 Thai restaurants and spas in South Africa. Moreover, the meeting discussed ways and means to promote economic cooperation, especially on trade and investment opportunities for Thai businesses in South Africa, and ways to organise activities to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Thailand and South Africa in December 2018.

          The next Thailand - South Africa Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) will be held in Thailand during the third quarter of 2019.