Key facts
- Thailand is seeking Western partners for the Dawei port project.
- The Dawei project is intended to be Thailand's gateway to the Indian Ocean.
- Thailand will chair ASEAN in 2028 and plans over 100 events.
- The National ASEAN Committee's mandate has been expanded to oversee preparations for the chairmanship.
Thailand is looking to Western partners to develop the Dawei area in southern Myanmar, a project first considered in the 1990s as a gateway to the Indian Ocean. The initiative has taken on new urgency as Thailand's economic growth slows. Meanwhile, Thailand is preparing to chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2028, with over 100 meetings and events planned. The National ASEAN Committee has been granted expanded powers to oversee these preparations until December 31, 2028. Thailand aims to leverage this chairmanship to strengthen its regional influence and advance shared ASEAN priorities.