Aekniti leads a team of nine major Thai corporations in negotiations with New Zealand to expand investments in smart agriculture and advanced technology, accelerating clean energy projects in line with global trends, while deploying the strategic Thailand FastPass.
On 21 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Aekniti Nittitanprapas announced he co-chaired a business meeting with Hon. Todd McClay, New Zealand's trade minister, and executives from Invest New Zealand in Auckland. The event gathered business leaders and government representatives from both countries to discuss ways to broaden economic cooperation.
The discussions identified multiple collaboration opportunities, especially advancing smart agriculture in Thailand focused on R&D to increase agricultural product value. New Zealand investors showed interest in investing in agricultural technology in Thailand. This aligns with CP Group's case, via Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF), conducting research on chicken protein extraction in New Zealand, evolving from traditional chicken exports to extracting protein from chicken bones.
Additionally, both countries discussed the energy transition. New Zealand faces challenges due to the lack of oil refineries and high imported oil prices, aiming for 50% renewable energy investment. This matches Thailand's vision. Thai private sectors have begun business matching, such as B.Grimm and PTT preparing to partner with New Zealand allies to advance clean energy projects.
For Thai investors interested in New Zealand, Invest New Zealand offered incentives and introduced a Fast Track system similar to Thailand's, designed to facilitate faster and more efficient cross-border investment.
Narit Therdsteerasak, Secretary-General of the Board of Investment (BOI), revealed the event included connecting Thai and New Zealand private sector leaders and exchanging strategic industrial development policies. Deputy Prime Minister Aekniti emphasized the strong foundation through three free trade agreements: the Thailand-New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership (TNZCEP), ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). These pave the way for real investments in three target sectors: food and bio-industry combining New Zealand's agricultural technology with Thailand's food production; energy through cooperation in clean energy, energy storage, and power grids; and advanced technology and industries linking New Zealand innovators with Thai industrial bases.
Aekniti assured that the government is accelerating improvements in the business environment through the Thailand FastPass measures and invited New Zealand to consider Thailand as a production hub connected to supply chains covering the 700 million-strong ASEAN market.
This discussion involved nine major Thai companies: B.Grimm Power Public Company Limited, Banpu Public Company Limited, Central Group, Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF), Minor International Public Company Limited, PTT Public Company Limited (PTT), SCG International Corporation Company Limited, Supalai Public Company Limited, and Thai Beverage Public Company Limited.
On the New Zealand side, the delegation was led by executives from Invest New Zealand, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC).
"This success is not measured solely by investment figures but by elevating to a strategic partnership. New Zealand has highly specialized companies, and the BOI sees opportunities to match these strengths with Thailand’s potential to create long-term economic value," Aekniti said.