On 30 November 2023, H.E. Mr. Sarun Charoensuwan, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, met with Mr. Shams Mahmud, President of the Bangladesh - Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTCCI), who led a Bangladeshi business delegation to visit Thailand to attend the seminar on “Bangladesh and Thailand: New Horizons for Trade and Investment” and business matching activities with the Thai private sector at the Ministry of Commerce co-organised by the Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka and the Thai Trade Center in Dhaka as well as study visits on green innovation and technology in the textile industry and smart agriculture between 30 November - 2 December 2023.

Both sides discussed ways to promote bilateral economic relations in a comprehensive manner, including collaborations on trade and investment facilitation, export diversification, and emerging sectors with partnership potential, such as Halal food, agro-business, and electric vehicles (EV). The Permanent Secretary also exchanged views with the delegation on strengthening cooperation in various dimensions, particularly, the Blue Economy and ESG (Environment, Social, Governance), to drive forward sustainable economic growth of the two countries. The prospects of promoting Bangladesh as a gateway to South Asia for Thailand and Thailand as a gateway to ASEAN for Bangladesh were also discussed.

On this occasion, the Permanent Secretary congratulated Bangladesh on her path to graduating from least-developed country (LDC) status in November 2026 which reflects Bangladesh’s continued development. Both sides were confident that the seminar and business matching activities would lead to closer cooperation between the two countries.