On 14 July 2024, H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Mr. Khalid Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia, presided over the opening ceremony of the Thailand Board of Investment's Office in Riyadh. Also in attendance was Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary-General of the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). This is BOI’s first Office in the Middle East and the 17th world-wide.

In his opening remarks at the Thai-Saudi Investment Forum, the Foreign Minister emphasized Thailand’s commitment to further expanding trade and investment cooperation with Saudi Arabia. Organized by BOI, the Business Matching activity also attracted over 300 participants from more than 200 companies in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, resulting in over 100 business matches. Thailand-Saudi Arabia also signed a total of 11 memoranda of understandings and business agreements on food, tree import and distribution, exhibitions, and automotive parts, among others.

Foreign Minister took this opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with Saudi high-level representatives, including: H.E. Mr. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Minister of Investment; H.E. Mr. Fahd bin Abdurrahman bin Dahes Al-Jalajel, Minister of Health; and H.E. Mr. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture. Both sides agreed to increase trade and investment opportunities in energy security, food security, and human security.

Foreign Minister also met with executives from leading Saudi companies, including importers of livestock, fast food businesses, electric vehicle manufacturers, and health insurance companies. Each Saudi private sector saw the potential in Thailand for expanding the scope of cooperation and strengthening the economic partnership with Thailand moving forward.