On July 5, 2026, Mr. Arshist Sumpuntharat, Permanent Secretary for Interior, revealed that Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, signed an order appointing the “Steering Committee and Subcommittee for Driving Thailand’s Accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) of the Ministry of Interior,” chaired by the Permanent Secretary for Interior and comprising relevant government agencies and state enterprises. The primary goal is to collectively push Thailand toward membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an international organization whose main objectives are to promote economic growth, sustainable development, and improve the quality of life through cooperation on economic, social, environmental, and governance policies among member countries.
Mr. Arshist stated that the implementation of this committee mechanism was established to support preparations and drive Thailand toward OECD membership by 2028, in accordance with the government’s policy statement. The committee’s responsibilities range from policy formulation and overall planning to amending Thai laws and regulations to align with international standards, as well as international coordination to seek support and build good relations with member countries.
“Joining the OECD is considered one of the government’s key agendas, as it is a vital mechanism for driving reform and elevating the country across multiple dimensions—including economy, law, regulations, governance, investment, competition, innovation, environment, and public sector efficiency—to meet international standards. This will help build investor confidence, increase national competitiveness, reduce regional inequality, and enhance the potential and competitiveness of cities, regions, and rural areas of member countries, leading to a sustainable improvement in the people’s quality of life.“
Mr. Arshist further added that recently, the Ministry of Interior has played a proactive role in continuously working with the Regional Development Policy Committee (RDPC), both in terms of knowledge exchange, monitoring policy developments, and participating in meetings at various levels. This is one of the OECD’s sub-mechanisms aimed at increasing Thailand’s competitiveness, elevating national industrial and service standards to international levels, and driving science, research, and innovation diplomacy to build confidence and position Thailand within key global supply chains. This also includes promoting the creative economy and “Thai-ness” globally, which will result in strengthening economic and social security and sustainably improving the quality of life for the people.
Information from https://www.thaigov.go.th/th/news/165978