Highlight of Premium Member Luncheon 2026 hosted by H.E. Ambassador Mrs Astrid Emilie Helle

13 Aug 2026

Premium Member Luncheon 2026 hosted by H.E. Ambassador Mrs Astrid Emilie Helle

On 11 August 2026, H.E. Ambassador Mrs Astrid Emilie Helle, the Norwegian Ambassador to Thailand and Cambodia, hosted an exclusive luncheon for the Premium Members of the Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce (TNCC) at the Ambassador’s residence in Bangkok. This special occasion provided the premium members, who form the core of the Norwegian business community in Thailand, with an excellent opportunity to engage directly with the Ambassador, introduce their businesses, and raise issues and concerns relevant to operating in the Thai market. The event also served to strengthen the professional network among TNCC Premium Members.

The programme commenced with H.E. Ambassador Mrs Astrid Emilie Helle delivered her welcome remarks, highlighting that enduring economic partnerships are built on a foundation of predictability, mutual respect, and shared interests. She emphasized the importance of continuously strengthening cooperation between Thailand and Norway to maintain a stable, transparent business environment. By fostering this strong diplomatic and commercial foundation, both nations can unlock greater opportunities for business engagement, spark cross-border innovation, and drive sustainable growth in bilateral trade between Thailand and Norwegian relations. Following the Ambassador, Mrs. Kristine Anvik Leach, President of the Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce (TNCC), underscored the vital role of the Premium Member Luncheon in bringing together business leaders, government representatives, and key stakeholders. She noted that meaningful dialogue and knowledge sharing are essential to deepening connections, identifying emerging opportunities, and supporting the long-term expansion of Thai–Norwegian trade and investment.

Shortly after, we were honoured to have a keynote presentation titled “From Trade Agreement to Business Growth: The Strategic Opportunities of the TH–EFTA FTA”, delivered by His Excellency Mr. Werapong Prapha, Thailand Trade Representative.

H.E. Mr. Werapong highlighted the Thailand–EFTA Free Trade Agreement, which recently received parliamentary approval with over ninety percent of votes in favour. In his address, he emphasised that protective tariffs hinder growth, whereas high-quality, ambitious FTAs create long-term prosperity given businesses actively utilise and implement them. He highlighted the three critical pillars of the FTA:

Enhanced Market Access: Unlocks tariff elimination on nearly ninety percent of industrial and agricultural goods, allowing Thai exporters access to European markets and offering Norwegian enterprises entry into Thailand’s market of over seventy million consumers, serving as a strategic gateway to the broader ASEAN region.
Services & High-Value Investment: Allows full EFTA equity ownership in key manufacturing and service sectors, plus majority shares in R&D, marine transport, telecom, and machinery design providing Thailand with growth engines to transition out of the middle-income trap.
Strategic Complementarity: Combines Norway’s expertise in green tech, renewable energy, maritime innovation, and sustainable aquaculture with Thailand’s strong manufacturing supply chains, talent pool, and digital economy.

After the presentation, guests enjoyed a luncheon in a relaxed setting, with further opportunities for dialogue over the lunch and a Q&A session. Several of our Premium Members also shared their perspectives on the discussion, highlighting key takeaways and opportunities for businesses. Their valuable insights contributed to a meaningful exchange and reinforced the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration within the Thai–Norwegian business community. The TNCC Premium members who joined this event are listed below;

As H.E. Ambassador Mrs. Astrid Emilie Helle concludes her term in Thailand this year, the Chamber also recognised her valuable contributions to the Norwegian–Thai business community. Mr. Axel Blom, former President of TNCC, delivered farewell remarks, highlighting her efforts to promote Norwegian businesses, support the Norway–Asia Business Summit 2023, facilitate solutions to business challenges, and strengthen advocacy and dialogue with Thai authorities. The Chamber expressed sincere appreciation for her dedication and support in strengthening business relations and creating opportunities for Norwegian and Thai companies.

On behalf of the chamber, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to H.E. Ambassador Mrs. Astrid Emilie Helle for her kind invitation and for offering this special opportunity to our premium members. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the embassy staff for their excellent support in making the event a success.

To see photos of the event, please click here.

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