On 15 October 2026, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered opening remarks at the seminar “Promoting Quality Infrastructure in Southeast Asia” together with H.E. Mr. Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), at the Conrad Bangkok Hotel. The seminar was an affiliated program of the IMF - World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026, jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, the OECD and the Blue Dot Network (BDN) Secretariat with over 100 participants.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised the importance of investing in quality infrastructure to enhance competitiveness and support the economy of the future, particularly digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and clean energy, alongside skills development. He also highlighted the need to mobilise public and private financing and foster a transparent and investment-friendly regulatory environment, in line with Thailand’s reform efforts under its OECD accession process. Furthermore, the Deputy Prime Minister underscored the importance of international cooperation, including with the OECD and BDN, in promoting international standards, improving the quality of infrastructure projects and strengthening investor confidence in Thailand and ASEAN.

The seminar provided a platform for representatives from governments, international organisations, development finance institutions and the private sector to exchange views on closing the infrastructure financing gap in Southeast Asia and promoting quality infrastructure projects that are transparent, sustainable and investment-ready. The event also reflected Thailand’s role in fostering stronger cooperation between the OECD and Southeast Asia.