Paris: Thailand reiterated at the OECD forum that governments must support the transition to a green economy, focusing on driving innovation without causing division. The country also set a target of producing 30% electric vehicles by 2030.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Sarun Chareonsuwan, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting 2026 (MCM) on the second day after being assigned by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkaew. Mr. Sihasak had to return to Thailand to brief diplomatic personnel at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Sarun held a bilateral meeting with Andreas Schaal, Director of the OECD's Office of Global Relations and Cooperation. Thailand reiterated its commitment to OECD membership by 2028 as a mechanism for national reform, raising standards, and enhancing Thailand's long-term competitiveness. This was supported by all sectors within the country, and the OECD expressed its readiness to work closely with Thailand to drive this process forward.
Prior to delivering a statement at the OECD meeting on the topic of "Investing for Sustainable Growth," it was stated that Thailand believes that sustainability and the transition to a green economy are becoming increasingly important economic agendas and contribute to competitiveness.
The opportunities arising from this transition are numerous. The global market for clean energy technologies is projected to grow to over US$2 trillion by 2035. Countries that can effectively innovate, attract investment, and scale up the adoption of new technologies will be in a competitive position in the future economy. Therefore, industrial policy has once again become a key issue on the policy agenda. However, in the current context, industrial policy should focus on creating an environment and conditions conducive to effective innovation, investment, and competition for businesses.
This is particularly important because seizing such opportunities requires unprecedented levels of investment. Global investment in clean energy needs to exceed US$4 trillion per year by 2030, but government resources alone may not be enough. Governments must focus on risk reduction, incentives, and policy frameworks that build investor confidence for sound long-term investment decisions. In Thailand, this concept forms the basis of integrated public-private partnerships to promote future industries and sustainable growth through the EV30@30 policy. We aim for electric vehicles to account for at least 30% of all vehicle production by 2030.
Thailand continues to expand renewable energy projects and promote the installation of rooftop solar panels, encouraging direct electricity trading between producers and consumers, as well as strengthening green finance mechanisms and carbon markets.
With these policies, we aim to create an economic ecosystem that makes sustainable investment a rational and economically viable option. As countries accelerate their green industrial policies, our key challenge is to ensure that competition drives innovation, not leads to economic fragmentation. This is the context in which the OECD can play a crucial role by promoting policy consistency, credible standards, and creating a fair playing field, ensuring that sustainable growth remains possible and benefits equitably. As Thailand moves forward with its OECD membership process, we sincerely hope to actively contribute to this collaborative effort.
Mr. Sarun then attended the closing ceremony of the annual conference.