During 21-22 September, 2025, Ambassador Nitivadee Manitkul, Ambassador of Thailand to Norway paid her first visit to Longyearbyen, the capital of Svalbard. Before her courtesy call on Governor of Svalbard on 22 September 2025, on 21 September, Ambassador Nitivadee Manitkul met representatives of Thai community as well as visited a Thai restaurant and a Thai grocery store. Nowadays, the number of Thais in Svalbard approximately 150 people is decreasing from those in 3-4 years ago which was recorded around 200 Thais who came to work and settled down. The Thais in Svalbard has been ranked 4th most populous after Russians, Norwegian and Filipinos. Most of the Thais are working in Tourist service sector such as hotels and restaurants. However, there are two Thai owned small enterprises: one Thai restaurant and one Thai grocery store. In response to Ambassador Nitivadee's questions, the Thai restaurant owner informed that she ordered Thai ingredients from grocery stores in Oslo and no serious problems yet. During the pandemic, her strategy of food delivery made her business successful survival. During a dinner at the Thai restaurant, Ambassador Nitivadee has seen many guests in the restaurant both locals and visitors which reflects popularity of Thai food.

 

Svalbard is the devolved locally-administered unincorporated area within a constitutional monarchy. It is a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole. One of the world's northernmost inhabited areas