Anutin expresses delight over strong Australian investor confidence in Thailand's stability, highlighting the “Thailand Fast Pass” policy that propelled first-half investment to 1.4 trillion baht. He is set to discuss with the Australian Prime Minister in Canberra easing jet fuel export restrictions.
18 Aug 2026 GMT+7 Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, revealed after an informal discussion with Australian business leaders attending the Thailand–Australia Investment and Business Partnership Reception, organized by the Board of Investment (BOI) in Sydney, Australia, that major Australian companies are continuously establishing and expanding production bases in Thailand due to the country's political stability and robust logistics infrastructure.
“Foreign businesspeople have great confidence in Thailand’s stability and potential, consistently ranking Thailand as their top investment choice. I always emphasize that Thailand is highly attractive to investors, and the more unity we build domestically, the stronger this appeal becomes,”
the Prime Minister added. He noted that a key factor driving overwhelming foreign investor response is the BOI’s Thailand Fast Pass policy, which serves as a centralized hub resolving investor issues comprehensively, making processes faster and more convenient, with no negative feedback reported from any investors.
When asked if discussions with foreign investors increase his confidence and readiness to promote Thailand internationally, the Prime Minister said he has always had confidence in Thailand. He dedicates time to travel and build investor trust while genuinely listening to their needs, yielding very satisfactory results. In the first half of the year alone, investments totaled 60 billion Australian dollars, approximately 1.4 trillion baht. Moreover, Australian technology effectively integrates and supports supply chains within Thailand.
Asked whether Australia raised any specific issues for his upcoming meeting with the Australian Prime Minister in Canberra on 19 August, Anutin said, the Australian Ambassador informed him that Australia currently has high demand for jet fuel, while Thailand has surplus jet fuel reserves due to large diesel production. Therefore, if the Australian government expresses intent, Thailand is ready to consider easing regulations to export jet fuel, which would meet Australia’s needs, boost Thai exports, and increase national revenue.
When asked about discussions on increasing Thai workers in Australia amid shorter work visa durations, the Prime Minister confirmed such negotiations would occur. After visiting Thai Town and seeing the growing Thai restaurant business facing chef shortages, the government aims to resolve these issues. They want to assure Australia that Thai workers currently do not come illegally but offer skills and expertise. Expanding opportunities for skilled Thai workers will help elevate Australia’s economy and create a genuine win-win situation.
