Vuttikrai Leewiraphan, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, chaired the Economic and Trade Committee meeting under the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council, together with H.E. Abdulaziz Alsakran, Deputy Governor of the Saudi Export Development Authority, on September 18, 2025, via teleconference.
The meeting was joined by representatives from relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Industry, the Central Islamic Council of Thailand, and Halal Science Center of Chulalongkorn University. The aim was to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between Thailand and Saudi Arabia.
Vuttikrai stated that Saudi Arabia is one of Thailand’s strategic trading partners, being a high-income country with strong purchasing power and significant demand for agricultural and halal food products. Saudi Arabia also plays a leading role among oil-exporting countries (OPEC) and in the Middle East, particularly among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, which include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Thus, deepening economic and trade ties with Saudi Arabia aligns with Thailand’s strategy to expand exports into new, high-potential markets.
For 2025–2026, both parties agreed to upgrade cooperation in various areas such as organizing trade promotional events and exhibitions, sharing experiences and development planning approaches, and jointly developing modern industries including robotics, next-generation vehicles, and artificial intelligence (AI).
There will also be cooperation in halal food, pharmaceuticals, and herbal products, as well as mutual experience sharing in developing policies for elderly care to address Thailand’s future social trends.
At the same time, the meeting approved moving forward with an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and a memorandum of understanding on customs cooperation, which will facilitate trade and investment between the two countries’ business sectors.
In 2024, Saudi Arabia was Thailand’s 19th largest global trading partner and the second largest in the Middle East, with total bilateral trade amounting to $7,757.03 million. Thai exports to Saudi Arabia totaled $2,856.68 million, while imports from Saudi Arabia reached $4,900.36 million. During the first half of 2025 (January–June), the total trade value was $3,846.50 million, with exports at $1,250.85 million and imports at $2,595.65 million.
Thailand’s key exports include automobiles, parts and accessories, wood and wood products, and rubber products. Major imports from Saudi Arabia are crude oil, fertilizers and pesticides, and chemicals.
