When we talk about the relationship between Australia and Thailand, we talk about our Strategic Partnership, and seventy-five years of diplomatic relations, our significant number of tourists, and our two-way trade, which has nearly tripled in the last twenty years.
But do we talk about art?
Do we talk about the Cloaca Professional, by Wim Delvoye, which is fed twice a day as a chemistry-set replica of the human digestive system?
Or Richard Wilson's installation, 20:50, which floods a room with engine oil in such a way that you cannot tell where the floor begins or where it ends…
Or Sidney Nolan's massive Rainbow Serpent, spread across more than sixteen hundred canvasses, 46 metres long and 9 metres high…
Those of you familiar with modern art will know I describe some of what you'll see if you go to Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art – or MONA.
A museum, which has brought more than 5 million visitors to Hobart in the 15 years since it opened, mostly from interstate or overseas, and become a defining part of Australia's cultural landscape…
And a museum which has just recently announced a partnership with Thai real estate group, Asset World Corp Public Company Limited, to set up a new art space on the banks of the Chao Phraya River from 2029.
Like it's sibling in Tasmania, MONA Bangkok will present unconventional, and unique work by leading international artists and create opportunities for Thai artists, audiences, culture, and traditions.
And it's a chance to take what MONA Tasmania has learned over fifteen years, to one of the great tourist cities of the world to create lasting cultural connections, and economic value.
When we speak of the importance of the relationship with Thailand, and the need to expand, and deepen cooperation across all domains…
Well I think being able to visit MONA Bangkok in a few years' time will be a pretty tangible example of how we are doing just that.
It joins other cooperation under our Strategic Partnership in trade and investment, defence and security, law enforcement, counter‑terrorism, education, agriculture, migration, tourism, energy and climate….
Cooperation, which is depending, as we look out to a region that is more contested, and volatile, where it makes sense to work together to strengthen economic resilience, lock in trusted supply chains, and support sustainable and inclusive growth.
Now of course with Southeast Asia predicted to be the world's fourth largest economy by 2040, economic engagement is central to this.
Thailand is already a substantial trading partner to Australia, with two-way trade valued at $32.4 billion in 2025.
Two-way trade has nearly tripled since TAFTA entered into force 20 or so years ago.
And over 3,000 Australian companies export to Thailand with around 200 maintaining an in-country presence.
We're committed to increasing this trade, and our investment through Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
Areas like agriculture and food, green energy, education, and the digital economy offer areas ripe and ready for growth…
And we've already made good progress, supporting $4.3 billion in new committed Australian investment…
And our Investment Deal Teams, including in the room here in Bangkok, have supported more than $800 million in investment commitments.
In Thailand, we're progressing a pipeline of opportunities with Export Finance Australia providing $191 million to support Gulf Energy's new solar and battery storage projects in Suphanburi and Petchaburi.
And there's been a regular tempo of business and investment missions to promote opportunities in priority sectors with five already to Thailand, and two more later this year, focused on institutional investment (October); and the green economy (November).
We're also working with Thailand to unlock growth through deeper regional integration.
Australia strongly supports Thailand's OECD accession.
And we're providing practical support for Thailand to help make this happen, including through masterclasses and the institutional partnerships that will help the country along on its reform journey.
Business will be a vital stakeholder in the process but also a key beneficiary, especially in areas like anti-corruption, transparency and competition.
And we're also looking forward to Thailand hosting the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings next month and an Australian investment mission, including Business Champion Peter Fox, travelling to Thailand to coincide with these meetings.
I have spoken a lot about what we are doing.
But Thai, and Australian businesses are critical partners in this work, as those who have grown and those who will continue to grow the bilateral relationship and trade ties between Australia and Thailand.
I've just been in Manila for the ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting where I was honoured to launch the AustCham ASEAN Business Survey 2026.
It's the tenth-year anniversary of the survey, a decade of longitudinal data collection.
And today it's my great pleasure to preside over the Thailand launch of the AustCham ASEAN Business Survey 2026.
The results are an invaluable pulse-check for what is on your mind as you do business in Southeast Asia.
What is going well, where are the barriers and how the risks in each market stack up against the rewards….
And I know many of you in this room have contributed to these results, for which I thank you.
As we look to next year, and 75 years of diplomatic relations, and AustCham's own 50th anniversary, we look again to our relationship and its potential.
In green energy, in tourism, multilateral engagement, the digital economy, secure supply chains for fuel, and food or some pretty unique, world-leading art.
I look forward to discussing this, and more, with all of you today.
Thank you.