During 20-23 March 2018, Grande Centre Point Hotel Ratchadamri Bangkok, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the 2018 Joint Review Meeting on the 4th Thailand - Bhutan Development Cooperation Programme (2017-2019) between Thailand and Bhutan in order to follow up the 2017 plan implementation and reviewing the 2018 plan.
On 20 March 2018, Mr. Banchong Amornchewin, Deputy Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), head of Thai Secretariat and Ms. Kesang Deki, Commissioner of the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC), co-chaired the preparatory meeting.
On 21 March 2018, Mrs. Suphatra Srimaitreephithak, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) and Dasho Karma Tshiteem, Chairman of the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) co-chaired of the 2018 Joint Review Meeting on the 4th Thailand - Bhutan Development Cooperation under Thailand - Bhutan Development Cooperation Programme (2017-2019). The meeting focused on promoting human resource development in Bhutan through numerous cooperation programmes, namely Friends From Thailand (FFT), The One Gewog One Product (OGOP) Development Project of Bhutan, solid waste management in Thimphu including Sustainable Economy Philosophy for Sustainable Development Goals (SEP for SDGs) Partnership for all levels.
After the meeting, Mr. Dasho Karma Tshiteem, Chairman of The Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) gave the interview concerning the Friends From Thailand (FFT) programme. He expressed his appreciation to Thai authorities concerned for implementing the FFT programme since it has a concrete contribution and fruitful outcome for all volunteers, officers and local people. He also expressed that Bhutan would like to cooperate continuously with Thailand to allocate volunteers for promoting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Bhutan.
Bhutan delegation also had an opportunity to learn and witness a concept of community-based tourism as well as Sufficient Economy Philosophy (SEP) at “Ban Saladin” and “Ban Klong Yong”, Nakhon Pathom province on 22 March 2018. The one day activity firmly enhances a better understanding on how SEP has brought prosperity and sustainability to their community.