On 29 May 2026, during her visit to Bergen, Ms. Nitivadee Manitkul, Ambassador of Thailand to Oslo, paid a courtesy call on and held an official discussion with Mr. Thomas Flesland, Deputy Mayor of Bergen, with a view to further enhancing relations and cooperation between Thailand and Norway.

 

Ambassador Nitivadee noted that although she had visited Bergen on several occasions, this was the first time she had the opportunity to visit Bergen City Hall. She emphasized the significance of Bergen in Thai–Norwegian relations, as it was one of the destinations visited by His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) during His Royal Visit to Norway in 1907, shortly after Thailand and Norway established diplomatic relations in 1905. This historic visit helped lay the foundation for the close and friendly relations enjoyed by the two countries to this day.

 

The Ambassador further informed the Deputy Mayor that Thailand and Norway, through the Thailand–European Free Trade Association Free Trade Agreement (Thailand–EFTA FTA), successfully concluded negotiations in 2025. Thailand is currently expediting its ratification process with the aim of bringing the Agreement into force in early 2027. The Agreement is expected to contribute significantly to the expansion of trade and investment between the two sides.

 

The Deputy Mayor expressed his pleasure at the growing number of Thai tourists visiting Bergen over the past two to three years and noted that Bergen had once served as the capital of Norway. Ambassador Nitivadee remarked that Bergen is a beautiful city and one of the most popular destinations among Thai visitors. She also noted that Bergen and its surrounding areas are home to a considerable number of Thai nationals who are part of Norwegian families and communities.

 

In this connection, the Royal Thai Embassy will conduct a mobile consular service in Bergen on 30 May 2026. On the same day, the Embassy will also organize a Thai food presentation at the Fish Market in central Bergen, featuring two Thai dishes: Spicy Norwegian Salmon Salad (Pla Salmon) and Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad). The salmon salad, in particular, reflects the harmonious combination of premium Norwegian salmon with the distinctive flavors of Thai cuisine.

 

In the afternoon, Ambassador Nitivadee and staff from the Royal Thai Embassy travelled to Wat Ubonmani in Odda, where they paid respects to the principal Buddha image and offered alms and food to the monks. The Ambassador also engaged in a Dhamma discussion with Phra Khru Punyadhammawisit (Aekrit). During the visit, the Embassy delegation received a warm welcome and had the opportunity to meet and exchange views with the temple committee, members of the Buddhist congregation, and representatives of the local Thai community. The Ambassador also planted a commemorative tree and joined the community for a dinner.

 

The Royal Thai Embassy extends its sincere appreciation to the committee of Wat Ubonmani and members of the Thai community for their warm hospitality and welcome gesture to the Embassy delegation.