“Australia and Thailand share a longstanding relationship based on trade and investment links and close people-to-people connections. As strategic partners, we collaborate across a wide range of areas, including defence, law enforcement, education and the green economy,” said Ms Wong.
“Thailand is Australia’s eleventh largest trading partner with two-way trade valued at approximately $30.8 billion (more than B739.9 bn) in 2022-23. Currently, there are 21,000 Thai students in Australia, making Thailand our seventh largest source of international students,” she added.
The Consulate-General in Phuket was officially opened in August 2017, reflecting the strength of the bilateral relationship and the number of Australians travelling to, and residing in, Phuket, Minister Wong noted.
“Ms Fletcher is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, most recently in the Consular Emergency Centre, and has previously served overseas in Bangkok,” she noted.
“I thank former Consul-General Matt Barclay for his contributions to consular services and advancing Australia’s interests in Phuket since 2019,” she added.