Thai Chamber of Commerce and 'Team Thailand+' Take Center Stage at SelectUSA 2026 with Commerce and Foreign Affairs Ministers

The Thai Chamber of Commerce is leading a private sector delegation through the 'Team Thailand+' initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expand Thai-U.S. trade and investment opportunities at SelectUSA 2026. Poj Aramwattananont, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Thai Chamber of Commerce Council, will bring 14 Thai companies to the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2026 in Washington, D.C. from May 2-6, 2026.

The 'Team Thailand+' framework integrates work between the public and private sectors with the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen trade and investment opportunities between Thailand and the United States. The delegation is honored to have Deputy Prime Minister Supachee Suthirampant and Commerce Minister, along with Paan Phithayanukulkij, advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, leading the Thai private sector delegation. This reflects close coordination between government and business sectors in advancing Thailand's economy on the global stage, with support from Suriya Chindawongse, Thai Ambassador to Washington, facilitating arrangements.

During the initial schedule (Saturday-Tuesday), the delegation will participate in major activities including meetings with U.S. government agencies, consultations with leading private sector representatives and investors, and participation in SelectUSA summit activities. The summit is a global platform for promoting U.S. investment, focusing on business networking, deep information exchange, and new opportunities for Thai investors.

Poj stated that the Thai private sector is confident that the 'Team Thailand+' collaborative approach will effectively enhance Thailand's capabilities on the global stage. Beyond promoting trade in exports and imports, expanding foreign investment, particularly in the United States—a large market with a strong economic ecosystem—will be an important mechanism for long-term growth.

The U.S. market is Thailand's most important and largest market. In the first three months of 2026, exports to the United States grew by approximately 42%, valued at around 720 billion baht, representing nearly 24% of total exports. This reflects the U.S. role as Thailand's primary market, with trends suggesting the full year could see about one-quarter of all exports, or 2.8 trillion baht.

"In a volatile global economic situation, particularly due to geopolitical factors in the Middle East, the Thai private sector must seek new opportunities and diversify business risks. Participating in SelectUSA this time is not only about creating business opportunities but also reinforcing confidence in Thailand's overall economic direction."

On policy collaboration, the Thai private sector also provides deep insights to government, particularly in trade negotiations with the U.S. Trade Representative's Office (USTR), reflecting Thai business perspectives and proposals to strengthen Team Thailand's negotiating capacity. The Thai private sector has continuously collaborated with the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (AMCHAM Thailand) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, having previously participated in SelectUSA Investment Summit to further concrete business and investment cooperation between the two countries.

"This participation is expected to be another significant step in connecting Thai business to global value chains and creating new opportunities in trade, investment, and innovation."