Abuja: H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, is set to embark on an official visit to Nigeria and Ethiopia from August 25 to 29, 2026, to strengthen Thailand's engagement with Africa through the Thailand-Africa Initiative (TAI). The visit aims to further the government's economic diplomacy agenda by enhancing trade and investment cooperation with emerging markets in Africa, focusing specifically on Nigeria and Ethiopia.
According to African Press Organization, the Deputy Prime Minister will meet with high-ranking officials in Nigeria, including Vice President H.E. Mr. Kashim Shettima, Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission. In Lagos, he will lead a Thai business delegation to participate in the Thailand-Nigeria Business Forum.
In Ethiopia, Mr. Phuangketkeow is scheduled to meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Gedion Timothewos and a representative of the African Union Commission. He will also host a reception to relaunch the TAI policy, engaging members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives from the public and private sectors. The Deputy Prime Minister will lead a Thai business delegation at the Thailand-Ethiopia: Building Business Bridges event in Addis Ababa to foster networking and strengthen bilateral cooperation.
This visit marks the Deputy Prime Minister's first official trip to the African continent, underscoring Thailand's commitment to strategic initiatives and enhancing bilateral relations with African partners.