On Saturday, August 24, 2024, a research team from the Department of Public Administration, Diponegoro University (Undip), conducted a visit and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) at the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. The visit aimed to gather field data for a study on gastrodiplomacy in Thailand.

The delegation was warmly welcomed by the Deputy Ambassador of Indonesia to Thailand, along with the Chief Counselor of the Political, Economic, Social, and Cultural Affairs (Poleksosbud) division. Additionally, an FGD was held with the Indonesian Diaspora Network (IDN) Thailand, represented by Finny Sigar, the treasurer of IDN Thailand. The Undip team consisted of four lecturers from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences: Prof. Dr. Endang Larasati, MS; Prof. Dr. Sri Suwitri, M.Si.; Dr. Dra. Tri Yuniningsih, M.Si.; and Marten Hanura, S.I.P., M.P.S.

The meeting took place within the compound of the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok, which on the same day was hosting a Bazaar & Panggung Gembira event, an annual celebration marking Indonesia’s Independence Day. The event added to the lively atmosphere of the meeting between the two parties.

In addition to the discussions with IDN Thailand, the Undip research team also conducted interviews with PERMITA (the Indonesian Students Association in Thailand) as part of their efforts to gather comprehensive data for their research.

The team’s research focuses on the topic of gastrodiplomacy, which involves using culinary diplomacy as a significant strategy in the international relations between Indonesia and Thailand.