From 7 to 16 November 2024, Dr. Orathai Phubunlap Gunaseelan, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., led a delegation of Thai private sector and academics to Kazakhstan in a project of the Royal Thai Embassy in Astana to promote the proactive economic diplomacy of Thailand in Kazakhstan and the regions nearby. The Thai delegates comprise Mr. Adit Krisanawong, Executive Committee of the Chamber of Commerce of Thailand, Mr. Phontakorn Wongcharoen, Executive of the Thai Future Food Trade Association, Mr. Tust Thangsombat, President of the Thai Food Processors Association, Ms. Supatra Rewpairoj, Director of the Thai Tuna Industry Association, and Mr. Seksan Anantasirikiat, Senior Researcher at the International Studies Centre (ISC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.

During the project’s implementation in Almaty, the Thai delegates attended the FoodExpo Qazaqstan 2024, held in Almaty from 13 - 15 November 2024. The Food Expo Qazaqstan is the largest annual food and beverage expo in Central Asia, drawing entrepreneurs from across the region. Thai companies, namely, Interdrinks Co., Ltd., Heritage Snacks & Food Co., Ltd., Thai President Foods Plc., Ab World Foods Asia Co., Ltd., and Pacific Fish Processing Co., Ltd. also exhibited their products, attracting significant interests from entrepreneurs attending the event. On this occasion, on 14 November 2024, the Royal Thai Embassy in Astana organized a networking dinner by inviting the distributors and entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan to meet and discuss business opportunities for Thai food products with the Thai delegates and Thai companies attending the event. Over 40 business people from Thailand and Kazakhstan attending this networking dinner.

In addition, the Royal Thai Embassy has helped enhance trade opportunities for Thailand by organizing meetings with the KZT Express company, which is 100% under Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, and with Atasu Group, one of the leading logistics companies of Kazakhstan, to discuss logistics and transportation links between Thailand and Kazakhstan and beyond. The Thai delegation also met with executives of the Department of Almaty Business Development Company, which is the agency under the Akimat of Almaty City, to gain insight into efficient market entry for Thai businesses in Almaty and Kazakhstan.

The project of the Royal Thai Embassy in Astana to promote proactive economic diplomacy of Thailand in Kazakhstan and the regions nearby through Thailand’s participation in the FoodExpo Qazaqstan 2024 aligns with Thailand’s proactive economic diplomacy foreign policy, aimed at positioning Thailand as a key player in the global food industry and the global food hub. The project has also helped Thailand gain insight into the logistics and transport information as well as learn more about rules and regulations for importing goods from Thailand to Kazakhstan.