Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Sarun Charoensuwan on 2 October 2026 met with Ms. Gita Kothari, Director of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Legal Directorate and OECD Accession Coordinator, at OECD Headquarters in Paris. 

They exchanged views on Thailand’s progress in the OECD accession process, the advancement of technical reviews, and capacity-building support for Thailand.

The Vice Minister reaffirmed the Royal Thai Government’s commitment to using the OECD accession process as an opportunity to raise the country’s standards and strengthen its regulations and public policies. He also expressed appreciation for the OECD’s support to Thai agencies in preparing for reviews by the relevant OECD Committees. 

The two sides also discussed preparations for the visits to Thailand by Mr. Mathias Cormann, OECD Secretary-General, in October and November 2026, which will provide important opportunities to further advance Thailand - OECD cooperation and strengthen the engagement of relevant Thai stakeholders in the accession process.

Previously, in a panel discussion, Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs Rujikorn Saengchantr emphasized that joining the OECD is not merely about attaining membership status but about using the accession process as a “tool to accelerate national reform.” 

The process, she said, will help make regulations more efficient, transparent, and predictable, while promoting fair competition. This, in turn, can reduce costs and risks for businesses, strengthen investor confidence, and enhance Thailand’s overall competitiveness. While higher standards may entail adjustment costs during the transition, particularly for SMEs, the public sector will need to listen to the private sector and provide appropriate support, so that OECD standards can become an opportunity for businesses to upgrade their capabilities and gain access to higher-value markets and value chains.