From 25 - 28 August 2026, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, paid official visits to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. During the visits, he held meetings with senior officials, representatives of the public and private sectors, and academia to promote cooperation between Thailand and the two countries in the areas of politics, economy, development, and global strategic cooperation. These various engagements were undertaken as part of the Thailand - Africa Initiative (TAI), Thailand’s policy orientation towards the African continent.

The visits marked the first visit to Africa by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand since his assumption of office, reflecting Thailand’s commitment to elevating its relations with Africa towards a strategic partnership. It also reflects Thailand’s intention to harness the complementary strengths of Thailand and Africa under the framework of South-South cooperation and working together to advance the interests and priorities of developing countries in the Global South.

During the visit to Nigeria, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Kashim Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria, and held discussions with H.E. Ms. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, to strengthen Thailand–Nigeria relations and discuss ways to promote cooperation across various dimensions, including political, economic, development and people-to-people cooperation.

On this occasion, Thailand and Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation, which will serve as an important mechanism for promoting the exchange of knowledge and expertise, as well as capacity building between the two countries.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also strengthened Thailand’s engagement with African regional organisations by meeting with Mrs. Damtien Tchintchibidja, Vice-President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). On this occasion, he presented the Letter of Accreditation appointing the Ambassador of Thailand in Abuja as Ambassador of Thailand to ECOWAS. This will provide an important channel for Thailand to promote cooperation with ECOWAS and the West African region in a more systematic manner.

During the visit to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Taye Atske Selassie, President of Ethiopia, and held discussions with H.E. Mr. Gedion Timothewos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, to enhance Thailand–Ethiopia relations across various dimensions. The discussions also covered preparations for the reopening of the Royal Thai Embassy in Addis Ababa, which will serve as an important mechanism for strengthening Thailand’s relations with Ethiopia, the African Union (AU) and Africa as a whole.

Thailand and Ethiopia also signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on the Establishment of a Political Consultations Mechanism that will provide a structured channel for regular policy dialogue between the two countries. Thailand expressed its readiness to host the first Political Consultations in Thailand in 2027.

Furthermore, the visits reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to advancing Economic Diplomacy, with a Thai private-sector delegation comprising representatives from the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM Bank), and leading Thai companies from various sectors, including agriculture and food, food processing, petrochemicals, construction and safety equipment. The delegation joined the visits to explore business opportunities and build networks with the private sectors of both countries.

On this occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs presided over the “Thailand – Nigeria Business Forum” in Lagos, Nigeria, while H.E. Mr. Arthayudh Srisamoot, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in his capacity as Special Envoy of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered the opening remarks at the “Thailand – Ethiopia: Building Business Bridges” event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Both events aimed to promote trade and investment between Thailand and the two countries through closer connections among relevant agencies and the establishment of networks between the Thai and African private sectors. These engagements reflect the impact of Thailand’s Economic Diplomacy in translating diplomatic relations into concrete economic opportunities for Thai businesses, with a view to developing further business cooperation in areas of mutual potential.

In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA), further strengthening business-to-business linkages between the two countries.

The visits also provided an opportunity to advance development cooperation that responds to the needs of Africa, with an emphasis on knowledge exchange, human resource development and capacity building, which are at the heart of South-South Cooperation.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also exchanged views with scholars from the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) in Abuja and presided over a Lunch Talk entitled “Building Sustainable Partnerships: Connecting Youth, Innovation and Business between Thailand and Nigeria”, organised by the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), in cooperation with Kasetsart University and Federal Cooperative College, Oji River. The activities provided platforms for the public sector, academia and the private sector to connect and exchange experiences on ways to strengthen Thailand–Africa cooperation.

In addition, the Special Envoy of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs presented a US$30,000 contribution from the Royal Thai Government to Dr. Raji Tajudeen, Acting Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), to support efforts to contain the spread of the Ebola virus. The contribution demonstrates Thailand’s solidarity with Africa and reaffirms Thailand’s role as a partner ready to work with developing countries in addressing public health challenges.

During the visit to Africa, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs announced the Thailand – Africa Initiative (TAI) to an audience comprised of senior representatives of the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of international organisations and local media in Addis Ababa, a key political and diplomatic hub of Africa as well as the headquarters of the African Union. This relaunch of the Thailand - Africa Initiative (TAI) in Addis Ababa reflects Thailand’s commitment to elevating its relations with Africa towards a strategic partnership and becoming an important and trusted partner of Africa.