On 7-11 May 2022, the Royal Thai Embassy and Mr. Oscar de Guruceaga, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Thailand in Caracas, organized the “Thai Food Festival in Venezuela” event and Thai cultural activities in Caracas, Venezuela, to commemorate the establishment of 40 years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Venezuela, with the purpose of raising public awareness of the cordial bilateral relations between Thailand and Venezuela over the past 40 years. The main activities included :

(1) “ASEAN Music Concert 2022” consisting of ASEAN cultural showcase and a symphony orchestra performance of Hector Berlioz’s “Fantastique” performed by the El Sistema Symphony Orchestra at the Center for Social Action for Music in Caracas, an event organized in collaboration with the ASEAN Committee in Caracas (ACC), which consists of four ASEAN embassies in Caracas, namely Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. Approximately 600 people attended the concert, including Mrs. Capaya Rodriguez, Vice Minister for Asia, Middle East and Oceania, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, as the guest of honor,

(2) Thai cuisine demonstration at the House of the Honorary Consul in Caracas with 20 participants from the diplomatic corps in Caracas. and a Thai cuisine demonstration at Casa Mar, Caracas, attended by 50 people such as chefs from famous restaurants, representatives from the restaurant industry and food bloggers, and

(3) Seminar on “Buddhism in Thailand and Latin America” and meditation workshop by the Venerable Phra Sutham Nateetong and representative from the Walk for World Peace delegation at the Gandhi Center, Metropolitana University and La Casona, to promote interfaith dialogue and understanding in Venezuela, with approximately 80 participants.

In addition, during this visit to Caracas, Ambassador Sorayut Chasombat met with various Venezuelan public and private agencies, including (1) Mrs. Capaya Rodriguez, Vice Minister for Asia, Middle East and Oceania, Ministry of the People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, to discuss opportunities for strengthening relations between Thailand and Venezuela, especially in the areas of political cooperation, trade and investment, and people-to-people relations, whereby the overall situation in Venezuela that has shown positive developments provides an opportunity for Thai investors who are interested in Venezuela's potential economic sectors, (2) Mr. Guillermo Lara Toro, President of the Venezuelan Export Bank (BANCOEX), to discuss trade and investment opportunities in Venezuela, and (3) Mr. Jose M. Nogueroles, President of the National Bank of Credit in Venezuela, who is interested in strengthening relations with the Thai financial and banking sector.