During 12 - 14 July 2560, Mrs. Suphatra Srimaitreephithak, Director- General, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), attends the “Mekong Institute Council Meeting 1/2017” and assumes the Mekong Institute Council Chairmanship from 5 August 2017 – 4 August 2019, as Myanmar’s chairmanship will be ended on 4 August 2017, at Mekong Institute, Khon Kaen, Thailand. The Director-General also attends the Mekong Forum 2017, organized under the theme “New Geo-Economics: Reshaping the Future of the GMS” at Pullman Khon Kaen Raja Orchid Hotel.
- Thai government has supported the Mekong Institute to raise its status from bilateral cooperation between Thailand and New Zealand to the sub-regional organization. The Charter
of the Mekong Institute has been signed by the six governments of the GMS in 2003 and the establishment of the institute was announced on 18 June 2003, during the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Phnom Penh. The institute operates as an autonomous institution under the governance of the Council and Steering Committee.
- The Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency, assigned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to be a representative of Thailand in the Council members and the Director of Thai Cooperation Branch I, assigned by Thailand International Cooperation Agency, to be a representative of Thailand in the Steering Committee members.
- According to the MFA Director- General's meeting on 27 June 2017, the Director-General of TICA is entrusted to become Chairperson of the Mekong Institute Council, as Thailand will assume the chairmanship after Myanmar, from 5 August 2017 – 4 August 2019.