On 30 October 2024, H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, welcomed H.E. Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), who paid a working visit to Thailand as guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during 29-31 October 2024, to officially launch Thailand’s OECD Accession Process.

On this occasion, the Minister of Foreign Affairs hosted a working lunch in honor of the Secretary-General of the OECD and presided over the event entitled “Launch of Thailand’s OECD Accession Process.” In his remarks, the Foreign Minister emphasised Thailand’s intention to become an OECD member with an aim to uplift its competitiveness and standards and expressed Thailand’s readiness in bridging OECD with other international groupings. While the OECD Secretary-General handed over Thailand’s OECD Accession Roadmap to the Foreign Minister. He also delivered a remarks underscoring that the accession process is an open process whereby Thailand and OECD will engage in discussion, and Thailand can address its specific context and reservations. The Roadmap handover was followed by a briefing and a panel discussion about Thailand’s OECD accession as a transformative process. There were about 200 participants in attendance, including ambassadors and represenatives from embassies of OECD countries in Thailand, representatives from government agencies involved in the accession process, as well as private sector, academia, and the media.

During this visit, the OECD Secretary-General paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Thailand. He also discussed with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance of Thailand, the Second Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Governor of the Bank of Thailand, and the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking. In the said meetings, discussion was focused on Thailand’s commitment to join the OECD as well as the role of the relevant sectors in supporting this accession process.

The OECD invited Thailand to the Accession Discussions on 17 June 2024, after Thailand presented its Letter of Intent to join the OECD on 12 February 2024. The accession will help enhance the country’s competitiveness, create conducive environment for sustainable and high-quality investment, and improve regulations and policies in various areas, including good governance, transparency and environment. It will also promote Thailand’s role in shaping the international economic governance together with OECD members.