On 17 - 20 August 2026, Mr. Kasemsan Thongsiri, Director of the South Asia and Central Asia Division, together with officials from the Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs, organized a public outreach programme to raise awareness of South Asia among the Thai public, particularly students, academics, and the general public. The programme aimed to promote greater understanding of the importance, potential, and opportunities that South Asia offers in the areas of politics, economy, education, and people-to-people contacts.

The delegation organised sessions entitled “Thailand and South Asia: Closer than You Think”, followed by Q&A sessions on South Asia and Thailand’s foreign policy towards the region. The session were held at Walailak University in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Muang Surat Thani School in Surat Thani, and Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University’s Ranong Education Centre, with more than 1,000 participants attending the activities.

The delegation also visited Ranaong Port and met with Mr. Sitthiphong Chansrikot, Acting Manager of Ranong Port, to exchange views on promoting cooperation between Ranong Port and other potential ports in South Asia, including Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. The discussions focused on transportation and maritime connectivity, with a view to strengthening future economic and trade linkages between Thailand and South Asia.

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