Thailand sees BRICS as key platform for expanding trade and investment

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, emphasized the importance of the BRICS organization in facilitating international trade and investment flows during an exclusive interview with TV BRICS. The Deputy Prime Minister underscored that BRICS serves as a crucial platform for maintaining free trade and investment, and presents an opportunity for member states and partner countries to explore new economic prospects.

Thailand joined the BRICS partnership in 2025 and is actively pursuing full membership in 2026. According to Phuangketkeow, this participation enables Bangkok to forge stronger ties with a diverse array of countries and heighten cooperation in domains such as trade, investment, and interpersonal connections. He further emphasized that BRICS brings together its member states and partner nations, thereby creating a vast platform for economic engagement.

The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the significance of collaboration between both governmental and private sectors, asserting that businesses ultimately hold the key to driving economic activity. In addition, Phuangketkeow identified BRICS as a platform for forging connections with new partners and unearthing economic prospects, noting that Thailand already enjoys robust ties with BRICS members but is keen on exploring further collaborative opportunities, including in science and other sectors.

For Thailand, deeper involvement with BRICS is intrinsically linked to the country's broader economic strategy in Southeast Asia, where it is scheduled to chair the ASEAN organization in 2028. Bangkok places significant emphasis on regional economic integration and preserving ASEAN's central role. Phuangketkeow pointed to the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway as a major potential corridor linking Southeast Asia with South Asia and India.

Upon its completion, this highway is expected to become a major conduit for trade, investment, and people-to-people ties, given the strategic importance of Southeast Asia.