New Delhi has named Puneet Agarwal, a seasoned Indian Foreign Service officer, as the next Ambassador to Thailand. The Ministry of External Affairs announced the appointment on Friday, marking a significant step in bolstering bilateral ties.
Agarwal, from the 1997 IFS batch, currently serves as Additional Secretary in the MEA. His extensive diplomatic career spans critical postings, including Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative in Geneva, Consul General in Hong Kong, and roles in Vienna, Thimphu, and Berlin.
Holding an electrical engineering degree from IIT Delhi, Agarwal has excelled in multilateral diplomacy at the UN and WTO, besides managing India’s strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region from July 2022 to December 2025. His recent stint in Geneva from February 2019 to July 2022 saw him represent India effectively in global forums.
This appointment comes at a pivotal time for India-Thailand relations, elevated to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bangkok visit on April 3, 2025. The partnership aligns India’s ‘Act East’ policy with Thailand’s ‘Act West’ initiative, emphasizing commerce, culture, and connectivity.
Bilateral trade in FY 2024-25 reached approximately $19.07 billion, though India faced a substantial deficit with exports at $4.18 billion against imports of $14.26 billion. Key Indian exports include machinery, gems and jewelry, and pharmaceuticals, while imports feature vegetable oils, electronics, and plastic raw materials.
Agarwal’s expertise in regional strategy, particularly with South Asian neighbors like Sri Lanka and Maldives, positions him ideally to deepen these multifaceted ties. His leadership is expected to drive enhanced cooperation across trade, security, and cultural exchanges, fostering mutual growth in the Indo-Pacific.