On 27 April 2026, Ms. Rujikorn Saengchantr, Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs, co-chaired with Dr. Poj Aramwattananont, Chairman of JSCCIB and the Thai Chamber of Commerce, a meeting of the Joint Working Group between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB). The meeting aimed to identify target countries for joint collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the private sector.

The meeting exchanged views on high-potential markets in different regions and discussed business opportunities in promising sectors, such as agrifood and automotive, as well as the urgency of advancing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with various countries and regional groupings. Mrs. Urasa Mongkolnavin, Director-General of the Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs, also briefed the meeting on the Thailand - Africa Initiative (TAI), which seeks to strengthen Thailand’s comprehensive cooperation with countries across Africa.

The meeting also exchanged views on key challenges for Thailand’s market expansion, including payment systems, logistics, international standards, and the development of a new generation of business leaders. Both sides agreed to continue cooperating closely in order to enhance Thailand’s competitiveness and create greater opportunities for the Thai private sector in the global market.