Twenty-three representatives from Thailand’s public and private sectors are participating in the Mekong-Australia Partnership 2nd Advanced Workshop on OECD Accession in Australia from 7 to 20 June 2026. The program is jointly supported by the Australian Government through the Mekong-Australia Partnership (MAP) and The University of Queensland, with the aim of helping Thailand prepare for accession to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in line with the Thai government’s goal to become a full member by 2028.

Participants are taking part in practical workshops, simulations, and exchanges with experts from key Australian institutions, including the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and The Treasury, to learn about public policy development and public sector reform, in line with international standards. They are also studying lessons learned from countries that have already completed the OECD accession process and faced similar challenges, such as legal and regulatory reforms, inter-agency coordination, and building public understanding of the benefits of OECD membership.

Communication is one of the major topics covered in the program. Representatives from the Government Public Relations Department (PRD) of Thailand are exploring strategies for raising public awareness, understanding, and engagement in the OECD accession process. They are also learning from countries that have successfully communicated OECD-related reforms and benefits to their citizens, in order to apply these lessons to Thailand’s public communication efforts.

The workshop forms part of Thailand’s intensified efforts to strengthen public sector governance, enhance national competitiveness, and support sustainable economic growth, aligning with the Cabinet’s target of securing OECD membership by 2028.

The program also reflects close cooperation between Thailand and Australia in developing human capital, advancing policy reforms, and promoting sustainable economic growth for a shared goal of greater regional stability and prosperity.