Between 22 - 24 September 2024, the delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Lt. Sorawud Preededilok, Minister attached to the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), together with officials from the Department of South Asian, the Middle East, and African Affairs and Thai private sector representative, paid a visit to the Republic of Ghana on the “Focus Group” mission to explore new potential trade and investment market, strategic partnership possibilities, and facilitate business matching in West African countries.

During the visit, the delegation met with the Director of the Economic Affairs Bureau, the Director of the Asia and Pacific Bureau, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ghana. Both Thai and Ghanaian sides had a fruitful discussion and explored ways to further enhance bilateral relations, especially in economic aspects.

Among the topics covered during the meeting were: (1) the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand’s hosting of “The Colours of Africa 2024” Event from 9 to 11 September 2024 in collaboration with 12 African countries, including the Embassy of the Republic of Ghana in Malaysia (2) Thailand's current and future relations with Ghana and the African continent both through bilateral partnerships and cooperation in multilateral fora, with Thailand’s affirmation of its support to African countries in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union Agenda 2063,which aligns with Thailand's Sufficiency Economy Philosophy.

Furthermore, the delegation also met with representatives fromthe Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Ghana. Both parties shared the vision and objective of increasing mutual trade and investment volumes, with the Ghanaian side expressing support to Thai private sector exports, particularly in consumer goods such as dried and processed foods.

The Ghanaian private sector expressed keen interest in Thailand’s food processing business sector and thus discussed possibilities of setting up agro-processing plants, with an aim to enhance food security in Ghana and improve Ghana’s distribution and export capacities to neighbouring countries, such as Togo, Benin, and Burkina Faso. Furthermore, the delegation met with members of the Thai community in Ghana, which is considered the biggest in West Africa (approximately 400 people). The delegation also explored local consumers’ goods at local markets, shopping malls in Accra and the major port city of Tema, which serves as a distribution hub for goods to other cities in Ghana and West Africa.