On 22 October 2026, H.E. Mrs. Piyapin Niyomrerks, Ambassador of Thailand to Kazakhstan, jointly presided over the opening ceremony of the Thai Cuisine Week Festival, together with Mr. Mislav Mikasek, General Manager of Sheraton Astana Hotel, and Ms. Madina Tleulina, Sales Manager for Kazakhstan of Air Astana, at Emiliya Restaurant, Sheraton Astana Hotel, in Astana, Kazakhstan. The event aimed to promote greater awareness and appreciation of Thai cuisine, as well as to showcase Thai food products and ingredients in the Kazakhstani market, in line with Thailand’s proactive economic diplomacy policy. It also sought to promote tourism and strengthen people-to-people ties between Thailand and Kazakhstan. The opening ceremony welcomed more than 60 distinguished guests, including members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of various organizations, and friends of Thailand in Kazakhstan. The event was also joined by Ms. Kanchana Sing-udom, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Moscow Office.

 

               The Thai Cuisine Week Festival provided an opportunity to share preparation and cooking techniques with the hotel’s culinary team, enabling them to present a variety of authentic Thai dishes such as Tom Yum Talay, Tom Kha Gai, Pad Thai, Pla Goong, Som Tum, Thai desserts, and Thai beverages by using Thai ingredients and seasonings readily available at local shops and supermarkets in Astana and other parts of Kazakhstan. A selection of these Thai food products and ingredients was also showcased during the event. Another highlight of the event was a lucky draw for two air tickets to Thailand (Astana to Bangkok and Astana to Phuket) generously sponsored by Air Astana as the Airlines was scheduled to commence the direct flight route Astana - Bangkok on 11 December 2026.

 

               The Thai Cuisine Week Festival, held at Emiliya Restaurant, Sheraton Astana Hotel, from 22 to 30 October 2026, represents another important initiative undertaken by the Royal Thai Embassy in Astana in collaboration with its partners in Kazakhstan to promote Thailand’s image and Soft Power through its culinary and cultural heritage. The initiative also seeks to expand opportunities for trade, tourism, and economic cooperation between Thailand and Kazakhstan. Furthermore, it serves as a platform for strengthening partnerships with the Kazakhstani private sector to enhance the visibility and popularity of Thai products and services in the local market, thereby creating new business opportunities and fostering closer and more sustainable people-to-people ties between the two countries.