On 10 November 2017, Ms. Suphatra Srimaitreephithak, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kingdom of Thailand, and Mr. Tashi, Deputy Chamberlain, the Queen’s Project Office (QPO),
His Majesty’s Secretariat, Kuengacholing (HMS), co-chaired the 2/ 2017 Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting under the One Gewog One Product (OGOP) Development Project at Thimphu, the Kingdom of Bhutan. Thai Delegation included Assoc. Prof.
Dr. Watcharapong Wattanakul, Faculty of Agriculture, Ubon Ratchathani University, Mr. Ratchanon Keawmanee, Community Development Department, and officials from TICA. Bhutan Delegation included representatives from the Agency for Promotion of Indigenous Crafts (APIC), Bhutan Chamber of Commerce, Thimphu City and the OGOP Development Project.
The meeting presented the report on the implementation of the 2nd Year under 3-Year project activities, from June 2016 – October 2017, and discussed on the consideration and approval of the OGOP Project Activities of the 3rd Year in 2018 under the Project Work Plan. Thailand presents the work plan activities on setting up the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) communities in Bhutan along with OGOP promotion and development to strengthen the cooperate communities. SEP will help members of communities in sustainable thinking on income and career.
The meeting discussed on the preparation for the participation and displaying of OGOP products at OTOP Fair Thailand which will be held during 17 – 25 December 2017 at Muangthong Thanee, Bangkok.
On 18 April 2014, while having an audience of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, His Majesty has kindly mentioned to Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkaew, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, the initiatives to provide support an agricultural extension to develop the farmers’ ability in local product development in Bhutan focusing on agricultural products based on Thai experiences and best practices, SEP and OTOP Development Project in Bhutan
On 9 July 2014, H.E. Mr. Kesang Wangdi, Ambassador of Bhutan to Thailand, had a meeting with the Director-General of TICA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, to discuss on H.M. the King of Bhutan’s initiative project development and implementation by focusing on local products. The project aims to develop marketing strategy and packaging design for local markets and export. Thai concerned agencies were invited to study and collect necessary information from 8-10 villages in Bhutan. Knowledge sharing between Thailand and Bhutan is to promote and develop Bhutanese local products including 1) Beverage 2) Textile 3) Furniture 4) Food, and 5) Herb and Medicine.
Knowledge and experience sharing from Thailand to increase the productivity and income of Bhutanese and develop One Gewog One Product (OGOP) for local markets and export are Thailand’s missions in international cooperation for development. These implementation are in line with Thailand’s international development cooperation’s strategies, SEP for SDGs Partnership. In addition, these also help strengthen good relationship as well as better cooperation and understanding between the two countries.