On 29 - 31 July 2025, Ms. Sasirit Tangulrat, Director-General of the Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs, led a delegation from Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), the Ministry of Defense of Thailand, and the Thai private sector on a visit to the Federal Republic of Nigeria to strengthen bilateral relations and development cooperation and to showcase Thai defense and security products. The Director-General, together with H.E. Mr. Thirapath Mongkolnavin, Ambassador of Thailand to Nigeria, and the Thai delegation had meetings with high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS), and the Thai community in Abuja.

During the meeting with Ms. Janet Olisa, Director-General of the Department of Asia and the Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Director-General discussed ways to promote political, economic, cultural, and development cooperation in mutually beneficial areas as agriculture, public health, trade, investment and cultural exchange, especially in the film industry sector. Both sides agreed to hold the first Thailand - Nigeria Political Consultations in 2026. The Director-General also clarified Thailand’s position on the Thai - Cambodian border situation, reiterating Thailand’s adherence to the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian principles. However, Cambodia’s indiscriminate attacks have resulted in casualties on the Thai civilians and damage to public infrastructure, particularly hospitals, compelling Thailand to take proportionate and appropriate measures in self-defense, consistent with international law.

The Director-General also had a discussion with Mr. Seydou Kassory Mohamed Bangoura, Director for Administration of ECOWAS, on Thailand’s policy towards Africa with an aim to strengthen closer engagements with key African regional and sub-regional organizations including the ECOWAS, which has 12 West African states as members. Both sides discussed ways to enhance further cooperation, particularly in development cooperation and in Thailand’s areas of expertise, such as food security, public health, and agricultural technology; the appointment of the Thai Ambassador to Abuja as the Ambassador of Thailand to ECOWAS; the drafting of a collaboration Memorandum of Understanding to promote cooperation between the two sides; and the invitation extended to ECOWAS representatives to attend the 2nd Thailand - Africa Development Forum (TADF), scheduled to be held in Thailand in September 2025.

In addition, the Director-General also presided over the opening of the Business Forum between representatives from Nigeria’s public and private sector defense industries and the Thai private sector delegation within the defense industry, comprising Marsun Public Co., Ltd., RV Connex Co., Ltd., Narac Arms Industry Co., Ltd., and representatives from the Defense Industry and Military Energy Center, Ministry of Defense. The Business Forum was organized by the Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs in cooperation with the Royal Thai Embassy in Abuja, aimed to showcase the potential of Thai defense products, which has potential for market expansion in Nigeria and other countries across the African region.