Belgium and Thailand, Partners in Possibility
HE Michel Parys speaks on business, culture and everyday connections
Belgium joins Thailand in mourning the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother.
Each year on 15 November, Belgium marks King’s Day, a civic celebration of our constitutional monarchy and continuity. In this same spirit, the Embassy looks to the year ahead.
H.E. Michel Parys arrived in Bangkok in August 2025 to lead Belgium’s mission to Thailand, with concurrent responsibilities for Lao PDR and Cambodia. He is joined by his spouse, Ms Chiemi Miyahisa. The Ambassador’s brief is practical: connect people and projects that make a tangible difference in both countries.
Belgian strengths travel well. From life sciences clustered around leading universities to advanced materials and clean-process chemistry, from North Sea offshore wind know-how to a logistics ecosystem that links Europe to the world, Belgium is built for collaboration. In Thailand, these capabilities translate into partnerships that help factories run cleaner and smarter, improve water and waste management, support better health outcomes and strengthen high-quality food production. Much of this work is encouraged through the Belgian-Luxembourg-Thai Chamber of Commerce, whose network pairs Belgian expertise with Thai opportunity, while the Embassy helps the right partners find each other quickly and fairly.
Education and research are quiet multipliers. Thai students continue to choose Belgian universities for engineering, sciences and creative disciplines, and alumni networks connect graduates into labs and companies on both sides. These ties often begin with a semester abroad and end up as multi-year research links or start-up collaborations.
Service to citizens sits at the core of the Embassy’s day-to-day work. Efficient consular support for Belgians living, working or travelling in Thailand builds trust and frees the team to back wider cultural and community life.
That community life will be visible this month. Building on previous cooperation with UN partners and the city, the Embassy is supporting two public-interest moments that bring safety conversations into everyday spaces. On 27 November, an academic panel will explore digital safety with practical guidance for families and young people. On 30 November, a family-friendly cycling activity will carry those messages into the park, marrying Belgium’s cycling culture with Thailand’s community spirit.
Culture remains a signature bridge. Belgium’s creative footprint spans design, film, comics, music and cuisine. Working with Thai partners, the Embassy aims to showcase that diversity in ways that feel fresh here, while encouraging more Thai visitors and students to discover Belgium’s historic cities, museums and contemporary creative scene.
Looking ahead, the priorities are straightforward. Support Belgian and Thai businesses where their strengths align. Back universities and innovators as they form partnerships with purpose. Keep services to citizens exemplary. Keep culture and community at the heart of public diplomacy because trust is built around shared experiences as much as shared interests.
