Thai PM Anutin visits Australia and New Zealand to boost trade

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is conducting an official visit to Australia and New Zealand from August 17 to 22, 2026, to strengthen strategic partnerships and economic ties.

In Australia, the Prime Minister will meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss security, trade, energy, and digital innovation. The itinerary includes a speech at the Lowy Institute, visits to the technology company Canva and the CSIRO research organization, and meetings with the Thai community in Sydney. This visit marks the first official trip by a Thai Prime Minister to Australia in 14 years.

In New Zealand, the visit commemorates 70 years of diplomatic relations. Prime Minister Anutin will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to formally launch the New Zealand-Thailand Strategic Partnership. The two nations aim to triple two-way trade by 2045, building on a trade volume that reached nearly NZ$4.8 billion in the year ending March 2026. Discussions will also focus on regional stability and combating transnational crime.

A delegation of approximately 14 Thai companies, supported by the Board of Investment (BOI), is accompanying the Prime Minister to explore investment opportunities in advanced manufacturing, modern agriculture, and digital technology.