On 8 November 2019, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, welcomed Mr. António Vitorino, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), during his official visit to Thailand between 7 - 9 November 2019. The Director General of the International Organization for Migration expressed his  appreciation to the Thai side for the latter's close cooperation, particularly on the protection of migrant workers, the prevention of and counter trafficking in persons, the co-hosting of the launching event of Thailand Migration Report 2019 (Thai language version), and for its active role during the negotiations and the follow-up and implementation phase of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The Foreign Minister thanked the  IOM for their assistance in the evacuation of Thai nationals from Libya and for assisting in the return of Thai fishermen in Somalia in May and August 2019, respectively.

 

The visit to Thailand is the first official visit of the Director General of  IOM after his assumption of office in October 2018. Prior to the courtesy call on the Foreign Minister, the Director General of IOM paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, where they discussed cooperation on migrants’ health issues.