Thailand and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have moved to further strengthen their partnership in all dimensions.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas on 20 January 2026 held a discussion with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, Switzerland.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow also joined the discussion. The Thai side reaffirmed its commitment to advancing OECD accession, designated as a national priority, in order to align Thailand’s economic and fiscal policies and practices with international standards.

According to a report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the OECD’s readiness to support Thailand throughout the accession process, by coordinating with OECD member countries and providing capacity-building programs for Thai agencies. 

The Secretary-General also reiterated the OECD’s willingness to maintain regular high-level exchanges with Thailand, with a view to monitoring Thailand’s accession progress and deepening cooperation in areas of shared interest.

Thailand submitted its request to join the OECD in 2024 and was given an accession roadmap in October 2024. On 8 December 2025, the Prime Minister of Thailand submitted Thailand’s Initial Memorandum to the OECD. The submission marked an important milestone in Thailand’s OECD accession process. It also formally advanced Thailand to the next phase of a Technical Review phase, which involves various Thai agencies in coordinating with over 25 OECD Committees in order to reform and improve Thailand’s standards in line with OECD frameworks and practices.

On 21 January, Foreign Minister Sihasak met with Mr. KC Sullivan, President and Managing Director of CNBC International, and Mr. Craig Bengtson, President of CNBC International, on the sidelines of the WEF 2026 in Davos, Switzerland.

The Foreign Minister discussed potential collaboration with CNBC, as a leading global media, to enhance global understanding of Thailand’s foreign and economic policies, with a view to strengthening investor confidence and strengthen regional and multilateral cooperation amid geopolitical uncertainty and supply-chain disruptions. He also underscored Thailand’s proactive role in addressing online scams, emphasizing the importance of international awareness and cooperation to reduce economic losses and protect citizens.