During 24-28 April 2017, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the study visit under the Sustainable Community Development Project for the delegations from the Administrators of District of Beilene and District of Manhiça, Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Mozambique. The Study Visit is included the areas of:
1. Rice Production at Agricultural Service Cente, Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani Province and Thailand Rice Science Institute in Suphan Buri Province.
2. Aquaculture and Nile Tilapia Farming at Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Campus and Freshwater Fisheries Station and Fish Farming in Angthong Province.
3. Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) and New Theory Concept at the Royal-initiated
Wat Mongkhol Chaipattana Development Project and Community Learning Center in Saraburi Province.
4. Beekeeping at Wanna Beekeeping farm in Kanchanaburi Province.
On this occasion, Mr. Matias Albino PARRUQUE, Administrator of District of Bilene thanked for the Thai cooperation and said that “We have learned many things from Thailand such as the integrated farming and Aquaculture to develop our communities production. This trip is very useful for our communities and our country”. in addition, Mr. Fonseca Mario MACHAULE, an officer of the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development expressed that “It would take a long time for us to apply the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) in Mozambique. We need your expertise and experience to train our people and develop their communities to be self-sufficient. I hope we can make it happen through the cooperation of Thailand”.
After the study visit, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) organized the meeting between the delegation of Mozambique and the representatives of related Thai government agencies to exchange information and draft the work plan of the Project.
This study trip is the first activity under the Sustainable Community Development Project. It is the great step to introduce the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy (SEP) to be an alternative development to communities in Mozambique and it will be the practical model to apply in other interested countries in Africa. This cooperation framework is our policy alined with Goal 17 of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals or SEP for SDGs Partnership.