Anutin says Australian firms eye Thai expansion as jet fuel talks loom
Thailand may ease jet-fuel export rules for Australia while seeking better access for Thai chefs and promoting new Australian investment.
Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said major Australian companies were looking to establish or expand production bases in Thailand, while his government was prepared to consider easing regulations to allow jet-fuel exports to Australia.
Anutin spoke after informal discussions with Australian business executives attending the Thailand–Australia Investment and Business Partnership Reception, organised by the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) in Sydney.
He attributed the reported investment interest to confidence in Thailand’s stability, political conditions and logistics infrastructure.
“Foreign investors have strong confidence in Thailand’s stability and potential and regard the country as their first investment choice,” Anutin said.
He added that Thailand already had considerable appeal as an investment destination and argued that stronger domestic unity would further reinforce investor confidence.
FastPass helps resolve investment bottlenecks
Anutin identified Thailand FastPass as an important factor behind the positive response from foreign investors.
The BOI-coordinated mechanism serves as a central channel for resolving regulatory and operational bottlenecks affecting large investment projects, including approval, infrastructure, land and permit issues.
Anutin said the system had made investment procedures faster and more convenient, adding that none of the business executives he met had raised negative concerns about the process.
Asked whether the discussions had strengthened his confidence in promoting Thailand to investors in other countries, Anutin said he had always been confident in the country’s potential.
He said the purpose of his visit was to build confidence and listen directly to what investors required, describing the response from Australian businesses as highly satisfactory.
Anutin cited Thailand’s total investment-promotion applications during the first half of 2026, which reached about 1.47 trillion baht, equivalent to roughly A$60 billion. The figure covers applications from domestic and foreign investors and should not be interpreted as Australian investment alone.
He also said Australian technology could be integrated into Thailand’s industrial supply chains and help strengthen domestic production capabilities.
Thailand considers jet-fuel exports to Australia
Asked whether Australia had raised any specific matters for his meeting with the Australian prime minister in Canberra on Wednesday (August 19), Anutin said Australia’s ambassador had informed the Thai delegation that the country required substantial supplies of jet fuel.
Thailand, meanwhile, had surplus jet-fuel stocks, which Anutin linked to the country’s high level of diesel production.
Should the Australian government formally express an interest, he said Thailand would be prepared to consider relaxing the relevant regulations to permit exports.
Such an arrangement could help meet Australian demand while increasing Thailand’s exports and generating additional revenue, he added.
No potential export volume, commercial terms or timetable was disclosed.
Thai chef shortage to enter Canberra discussions
Anutin also confirmed that access for Thai workers would be raised during the Canberra talks, particularly following concerns that the duration of Australian work visas had been shortened.
He said a visit to Sydney’s Thai Town had shown that Thai restaurant businesses were growing but facing a shortage of chefs.
The Thai government would therefore seek to discuss how regulatory obstacles could be addressed to create more opportunities for skilled Thai workers.
Anutin said Thailand would also need to assure Australian authorities that workers entering the country would use legal channels and bring recognised skills and professional expertise.
Allowing more skilled Thai workers to enter Australia could support expanding businesses and contribute to the Australian economy, he said, describing the proposal as mutually beneficial.
Anutin is scheduled to continue the discussions during his visit to Canberra on Wednesday (August 19).
