On 6 February 2025, H.E. Ms. Arjaree Sriratanaban, Ambassador of Thailand to Australia along with Mrs. Hattaya Kusakul, Consul-General of Thailand in Sydney and Ms. Usanee Thinkohkaew, Director of Thailand Board of Investment (Sydney Office), visited Wollongong to attend the ASEAN Market Update for NSW Business, hosted by the New South Wales Government at the University of Wollongong. The Honourable Anoulack Chanthivong, NSW Minister for Industry and Trade, and the Honourable Paul Scully, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and MP of Wollongong, attended the event along with members of the diplomatic and consular corps from ASEAN countries, and businesses and relevant agencies from New South Wales.

The New South Wales Government, through Investment NSW in partnership with Asialink Business, initiated the ASEAN Market Update for NSW Business series to raise awareness and build networks to promote trade and investment in the Southeast Asian region, which is in support of Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. Later iterations of ASEAN Market Update will be held at Northern Rivers, Hunter, and Wagga Wagga this year.

While on campus, the ASEAN diplomatic and consular corps also met with the University’s top management to discuss cooperation between the university and ASEAN countries. The delegation was invited to visit the university’s facilities, notably the Early Start Discovery Space and the Molecular Horizons research centre.

As part of the programme, the diplomatic and consular corps also visited BlueScope Steelworks Plant and Coregas’ Hydrogen Hub in Port Kembla.