On 29 September 2026, H.E. Ms. Arjaree Sriratanaban, Ambassador of Thailand to Australia, participated in the Australia – ASEAN Business Forum 2026 (AABF 2026) at the Adelaide International Convention Centre in Adelaide.

The Ambassador was invited to speak in a panel discussion titled “Mobilising Investment Across Australia and ASEAN”. She emphasized the importance of the close ties between Thailand and Australia. Both governments’ shared commitment to deepening and expanding partnerships and economic engagement, and the strong people-to-people links, which all lend a strong foundation that broaden opportunities for the private sector of both sides and provide them with confidence to invest and do business. The official visit of the Thai Prime Minister to Australia in August 2026 also added new momentum, with one of the key outcomes focusing on deepening economic engagement especially in high-growth sectors such as clean energy and energy transition, food security and agricultural technology, advanced manufacturing, digital economy, as well as collaboration in science, research and innovation.

The Ambassador also underscored Thailand’s consistent policy to promote investment and improve investment environment and ease of doing business, noting the Thai Government’s goal to become an OECD member by 2028. She encouraged greater use of existing agreements, frameworks and mechanisms that help facilitate trade and investment between Thailand and Australia, such as the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA), and those in the region, including the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. The recently concluded ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) will also assist regional trade and investment in the context of digital economy.

The AABF is a forum aimed at promoting economic ties between Australia and ASEAN. This year, the Forum brought together senior representatives from government and business sectors of both Australia and ASEAN member countries. These included the Honourable Chris Picton MP, Minister for State Development of South Australia, the Honourable Anoulack Chanthivong MP, Minister for Industry and Trade of New South Wales, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, and Mr. Bran Black, Chief Executive of Business Council of Australia. Executives from leading Thai companies also participated as presenter and panellist, including (1) Mr. Earp Chaowaphat Siriphatrawan, Owner/CEO Amora Hotels and Resorts, speaking about the company's business in Thailand and Australia; (2) Mr. Narej Farik, Chief Development Officer-Amora Hotels and Resorts, speaking in the panel discussion on “Mobilising Investment Across Australia and ASEAN”; and (3) Mr. Andrew Turner, Director, CPF Australia, speaking in the panel discussion on “Food Security, Agritech and Sustainable Agriculture”.

Earlier, on 28 September 2026, Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, hosted a reception for AABF’s speakers and panellists at Government House.