On 25 – 27 February 2026, Ms. Pornpimol Sugandhavanija, Minister of the Royal Thai Embassy in Madrid (attached to the Office of the Permanent Secretary) led a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand to Songkhla, Pattani, and Yala Provinces.

During the visit, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Secretary-General of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), to discuss cooperation in promoting high-potential local products such as halal food, traditional textiles, indigo-dyed fabrics, and GI products to overseas markets through Thailand’s diplomatic missions. Both sides also discussed youth capacity-building initiatives and efforts to promote accurate understanding of the situation in the area at the international level. The delegation also met with representatives of the Institute of Peace Studies, as well as administrators of the Prince of Songkla University and Fatoni University, to explore expanded academic cooperation, support for peace studies research, and student participation in capacity-building programmes implemented by the Ministry and Thai missions abroad.

The visit strengthened further understanding of the Ministry’s role in advancing development in the Southern Border Provinces and identified concrete areas for continued cooperation in education and economic development.