BANGKOK, Thailand, August 26, 2026/APO Group/ —
On 25 August 2026, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, held bilateral talks with H.E. Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, in Abuja, to discuss ways to further strengthen Thailand – Nigeria bilateral relations, building upon the cordial relations and cooperation between the two countries across various areas.
Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, manufacturing, energy, agriculture, digital technology and services, as well as promote private-sector linkages through enhanced cooperation between the chambers of commerce of the two countries. The Deputy Prime Minister noted that Thailand regards Nigeria as an important strategic partner in Africa and that the two countries have potential as gateways connecting Africa and Southeast Asia. The Nigerian side, meanwhile, viewed Thailand as a successful model in various areas, including development, education, agriculture, culture and tourism, and expressed readiness to exchange knowledge and experiences in these areas.
The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the Thailand–Africa Initiative (TAI), which aims to promote comprehensive engagement with Africa across the pillars of political, economic and development cooperation, as well as multilateral cooperation. Thailand also expressed willingness to share its development experience, for example, through the Thailand – Nigerian Sustainable Agricultural Technology Learning Centre project between the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) and the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, in Enugu State, which has potential to be expanded into other areas, including trilateral cooperation among Thailand, Nigeria and other African countries, as well as regional African organization, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU).
On this occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation, establishing a framework for consultations and advancing practical development cooperation. The signing marks an important milestone in further strengthening bilateral relations.
In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister announced that he would host the Thailand – Nigeria Business Forum in Lagos on 27 August 2026, bringing together Thai businesses to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria. Both sides underscored that stronger private-sector cooperation would significantly catalyze the translation of the Thailand – Nigeria partnership into tangible outcomes.
