On 15 September 2017, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) co-hosted “ The 3rd TICA Connect ", the event which is to showcase and share Thailand and Japan development partnership cooperation at Vithes Samosorn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On this occasion, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (H.E. Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul) gave an opening remarks earmarking the 130th Anniversary of Thailand – Japan diplomatic relations, Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) great contribution for more than six decades to Thailand’s development in infrastructure, social services, and human resource development, and appreciating JICA’s Country Strategy for Thailand and the outcomes of the 3rd Meeting of the Japan – Thailand High Level Joint Commission on 7th June 2017 in Tokyo which focusing on Thailand’s sustainable economic growth and infrastructure. He also emphasized Thailand’s determination to promote Goal 17: the Global Partnership for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and an active partnership between Japan and Thailand for “North-South-South Cooperation” in CLMV and far beyond to Africa. He stressed on both sides’ commitment to the Mekong region such as an announcement of Japan- Mekong Connectivity Initiative and Thailand’s coming chairmanship of ACMECS, and Thailand’s role as a development partner of Japan in ASEAN and Mekong region.
He highlighted the importance of Partnership Arrangement (PA) in strengthening partnership cooperation between the two countries and in supporting Thailand’s attempt to utilize the application of “Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy (SEP)” as the sustainable development model projects in other developing countries across the world.
The event was aimed at disseminating the outstanding Thailand and Japan technical cooperation projects as Japan is one of the longest and the top development partner since its first launch of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Thailand for more than 60 years since 1954. The third TICA Connect also highlighted partnership for development cooperation or “Triangular Cooperation” between the Royal Thai Government through TICA and the Government of Japan through JICA, in providing technical assistance to build capacity and human resources development of other developing countries and sharing Thailand’s appropriate technology and best practices to narrow development gaps particularly in ASEAN and Mekong region.
The audiences witnessed a special occasion on the signing of Partnership Arrangement (PA) between the Director-General of TICA and the Director-General of Southeast Asia and Pacific Department from JICA Headquarters, to intensify further partnership cooperation in replying to Japan’s laughing of the “Japan-Mekong Connectivity Initiative (JMCI)” in 2016, and Thailand’s determination in promoting the application of “Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy (SEP)” in development cooperation as a tool for other developing countries to achieve the SDGs.
All stakeholders from Thai and Japanese, public and private agencies as well as the development partners in Thailand acknowledged Japan’s ODA to Thailand from Technical Cooperation Projects and ODA Loans in various sectors such as physical infrastructure, social service facilities, environment and industrial human resource development. This event also provided a forum for discussions and exchanges views on future direction of Thailand and Japan partnership cooperation to promote ‘Global Partnership for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations’ development challenge in 2030.
There was an exhibition displaying TICA and JICA and their bilateral development assistances as well as TICA and JICA partnership cooperation such as the Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) for CLMV, and Triangular Cooperation for Myanmar, Palestine, and Africa. These also included booths from the training organizers in Thailand namely Kasetsart University (Kamphaeng Saen Campus), ASEAN Institute for Health Development (AIHD), and Dusit Thani College, as well as JICA Alumni Association of Thailand (JAAT).