Economy
Thailand and New Zealand Target Triple Trade Growth by 2045
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas led a business delegation to Auckland to strengthen strategic partnerships in food, energy, and technology.
On August 21, 2026, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas, alongside Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary-General of the Board of Investment (BOI), met with New Zealand’s Minister for Trade, Hon. Todd McClay, in Auckland. The meeting, organized with Invest New Zealand, focused on fostering business networking and aligning industrial policies between the two nations.
According to Khaosod Online, the primary objective of this diplomatic and commercial mission is to triple the bilateral trade value by 2045. The discussions centered on three strategic sectors: food, clean energy, and advanced technology. Officials highlighted that the economic relationship is currently supported by three major free trade agreements: the Thailand-New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership (TNZCEP), the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
For residents and travelers, this initiative signals a potential increase in the availability of specialized goods and services between the two countries, as well as potential long-term shifts in industrial collaboration. While the goal to triple trade is ambitious, the specific mechanisms for achieving this growth and the timeline for new private-sector projects remain to be confirmed as the partnerships develop.