Thailand and a coalition of African nations have ushered in a new chapter of diplomatic and economic engagement with the official relaunch of the Thailand–Africa Initiative at a high-level event in Bangkok.
The ceremony, attended by senior officials, ambassadors, and business leaders, was co-chaired by Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, and Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, who delivered keynote statements outlining an ambitious roadmap for strengthened partnership.
In his opening remarks, Minister Phuangketkeow described the relaunch as both a reaffirmation of longstanding ties and a forward-looking strategy to align Thailand’s foreign policy priorities with Africa’s growing global influence.
Recalling the initiative’s original launch in 2013 during his tenure as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he underscored the accelerating economic rise of Africa and the need for Thailand to broaden its engagement.
“Africa is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a market of 1.5 billion people,”
“Yet Thailand has not engaged with Africa to its full potential. This relaunch is a commitment to recalibrate our policies to reflect Africa’s growing importance.”he said.
Phuangketkeow outlined four strategic pillars forming the backbone of the renewed initiative which includes Political Cooperation, Economic Cooperation and Strategic Cooperation emphasizing that Africa offers real opportunities and long-term prospects.
Addressing the surge in transnational online scam syndicates, the Minister stressed Africa’s essential role in next week’s International Conference on Global Partnership Against Online Scams, hosted in Thailand with UNODC support.
In his response, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar praised Thailand’s leadership and the deepening of Africa–Southeast Asia ties.
“This initiative is a bridge connecting our shared aspirations for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development,” Minister Tuggar said.
He emphasized the importance of leveraging complementary strengths: Africa’s youthful population, vast markets, and natural resources paired with Thailand’s innovation, manufacturing capabilities, and sustainable development expertise.
Tuggar also highlighted the crucial roles of ASEAN and Africa’s regional economic communities, noting that interregional cooperation can “amplify the voices of the global South.”
Addressing Africa’s limited share of global exports—just 2.5% despite being home to 17% of the world’s population—he called the Thailand-Africa Initiative a key platform for boosting integration and competitiveness under frameworks like AfCFTA.
“No country is autarkic, Africa and Thailand must stand together, advocating for multilateralism, equity, and resilience.” he said.
The relaunch commits both regions to structured engagement, increased development resources, deeper political dialogue, and expanded economic ties. Officials hope the initiative will become a model of modern, mutually beneficial South–South cooperation.