Sihasak to attend OECD council meeting in Paris

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow will attend the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris on Wednesday to push for Thailand’s full membership by 2028, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Sihasak is attending at the invitation of OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, whose government holds the chair of this year’s ministerial meeting.

The 2026 meeting is being held under the theme “Getting Industrial Policies Right for Open Markets, Growth and Prosperity,” with discussions centred on how industrial policy can support economic growth.

Other issues include maintaining open and fair trade and investment systems amid technological change, the green transition and global economic uncertainty.

At the meeting, Sihasak will present Thailand’s vision for resilient and sustainable growth through innovation, human capital development and future industries.

He is also scheduled to deliver a keynote speech on Thursday at a plenary session on “Balancing the Goals and Impacts of Industrial Policy”.

In addition, he will hold bilateral meetings with Cormann and senior officials from member states to advance the accession agenda.

Thailand is currently undergoing technical review by 25 OECD committees, a process Bangkok describes as a key driver of domestic reforms in governance, business environment standards and national competitiveness.

The council meeting is the OECD’s highest-level forum, bringing together ministers of finance, economy, foreign affairs and trade from member and partner countries alongside representatives of major international organisations.

The council meets annually at OECD headquarters in Paris.