Visit of the Ambassador of Thailand

Mayor of Kraków, Aleksander Miszalski, discussed opportunities for cooperation between Kraków and Thailand with the Ambassador of Thailand to Poland, Urasa Mongkolnavin. The Ambassador paid her first official visit to the Kraków City Hall on Thursday, February 27.

The courtesy meeting was an opportunity for a discussion on possible Kraków-Thai cooperation. Thailand is widely known for its holiday destinations, beautiful beaches, excellent cuisine, Thai massage, and Muay Thai boxing. However, it can also be an attractive economic partner. This is why the Thai government is focusing on strategic dialogue with other countries. Modern Thailand is the theme of a project implemented by the Thai Embassy in Poland in 2024, aimed at attracting business and investment partners. High-level bilateral visits, such as the planned visit of Minister Radosław Sikorski to Thailand in the first half of this year, also serve this purpose. Increasing the number of Thai companies operating in Poland (currently there are only four) is an important challenge for the Thai government. As the Ambassador noted, "Poland is the window to the European Union," highlighting the need to intensify cooperation with our country.

Another key area of mutual relations is tourism. Mayor Aleksander Miszalski, who worked in the tourism sector before taking office, emphasized that Thailand is one of the most popular travel destinations outside Europe. Therefore, launching a direct connection between Poland and Thailand, similar to the Warsaw–Bangkok route that operated over 20 years ago, is crucial. Joint lobbying by Kraków's city authorities and the Embassy will certainly support the realization of these plans.

When asked about the city's development plans, Aleksander Miszalski outlined Kraków's key goals, including the construction of a metro, tackling air pollution—such as energy transformation and the introduction of alternative energy sources (photovoltaics, wind farms, and the elimination of coal in heating systems in surrounding municipalities)—as well as implementing Smart City solutions in various areas of urban management.

The Ambassador mentioned the success of last year's Thai Festival in Warsaw, which, in addition to cultural and promotional elements, provided a platform for business meetings. The Mayor proposed that the next edition of this event, planned by the Embassy, take place in Kraków, home to the Thai Consulate, headed by Honorary Consul General Wiesław Żyznowski, as well as an informal "ambassador" of Thailand, Rafał Szlachta—Vice President of the World Muay Thai Federation. Both gentlemen, present at the meeting, enthusiastically supported this proposal.