Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has emphasized Thailand’s strengths and efforts to advance economic and regulatory reform in order to open up new economic opportunities and attract foreign investment.

The Prime Minister on 17 June 2026 delivered a statement at the ASEAN-Russia Business Forum on the sidelines of the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan, Russian Federation. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow also accompanied the Prime Minister to attend this forum.

In his statement, Prime Minister Anutin highlighted Thailand as a regional leader in food and agriculture, tourism, medical services, and green transition. He also underlined three key areas to foster economic cooperation between ASEAN Member Countries and Russia, as follows:

1. Connectivity, by reaffirming Thailand’s role as a strategic gateway to ASEAN to enhance business links between Russia and Southeast Asia;     

2. Trade and investment, by welcoming increased Russian investment in sectors such as digital technology, agriculture, tourism, and the creative economy, and expressing support for exploring a Thailand– Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement; and 

3 People-to-people exchanges, by welcoming tourists from Russia and emphasizing the importance of tourism, cultural exchanges, and cooperation in medical tourism to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen long-term people-to-people ties.

The Forum aimed to be a discussion platform between the leaders and the business community from ASEAN member states and Russia to help foster trade, economic and investment cooperation between ASEAN member states and Russia, as well as on collaboration within the framework of the ASEAN – EAEU partnership.