Sihasak revealed the direction of Thai-Australian cooperation to elevate their economic partnership, aiming to triple trade value. The focus is on agricultural technology and clean energy, with discussions on rare earth minerals to support Thailand's semiconductor and electric vehicle industries.
On 18 August 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Sihasak Puangketkaew, Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated during his visit to Australia alongside Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul and the delegation, that the economic cooperation between Thailand and Australia discussed this time emphasizes multiple areas. This is part of economic diplomacy, with both countries having issued a joint statement between leaders to promote relations toward a full economic partnership.
Mr. Sihasak said, one of the main goals is to increase the trade value between the two countries, building on past success where trade volume has already tripled by leveraging the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Thailand and Australia have several key areas of cooperation, including agriculture and food, focusing on agricultural technology (Ag-Tech) and smart agriculture. Australia’s strengths in raw materials and technology will help Thailand add value to its food products.
There are also opportunities to expand the market for Thai food products through extensive Thai restaurant networks in major cities such as Sydney. Regarding clean energy and resource management, both countries will cooperate on the transition to clean energy, particularly solar and wind technologies, where Australia possesses significant technology and expertise.
Furthermore, Australia is an important source of resources like rare earth minerals—critical raw materials for lithium batteries essential for future industries including electric vehicles (EVs), batteries, and semiconductors, which are significant industries for Thailand.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also noted that Thailand and Australia cooperate in technology and digital economy sectors. Thailand aims to attract Australian investment in digital and artificial intelligence (AI) industries, areas where Australia has high expertise.
At the same time, Mr. Sihasak mentioned the active role of Thai private sector currently increasing outbound investments abroad, including in Australia, to expand opportunities beyond the domestic market of 60 million people. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to support and facilitate by addressing regulatory and procedural obstacles and promoting through free trade agreement frameworks to enable Thai businesses to compete and operate smoothly.