During 29 - 31 May 2024, H.E. Mr. Paitoon Mahapannaporn, Ambassador of Thailand to Sri Lanka (also serving in the capacity of Council President of the Colombo Plan), headed the Thai delegation comprising Mrs. Arunee Hiam, Deputy Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and TICA officials, to attend the 48^th Consultative Committee Meeting (CCM) of the Colombo Plan held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The Colombo Plan is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1951 to promote interest in and support for the economic and social development of Asia and the Pacific.  The Colombo Plan Secretariat is located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Over the years, the Colombo Plan has expanded to 28 member countries. Since joining the Colombo Plan in 1954, Thailand has been actively participating in the Colombo Plan’s programmes and activities.

The 48^th CCM reviewed the progress of the programmes implemented under the Colombo Plan since the last CCM in 2021, and discussed its work plan for the next two years. The on-going five programmes implemented under the Colombo plan are (1) the Drug Advisory Programme (DAP), (2) Gender Affairs Programme (GAP), (3) Capacity Building Programme (CBP), (4) Environment and Climate Change Programme (EMV), and (5) Maritime Advisory Programme. The meeting welcomed significant progress and success of the said programmes since the last CCM.

During the 48^th CCM, Deputy Director General Arunee highlighted the outstanding role of Thailand in the Colombo Plan’s Capacity Building Programme. Particularly, TICA as designated National Focal Point of the Colombo Plan has organized over twenty courses for member countries during 2012-2023 with the objectives of enhancing employment opportunities and sustainable development in various areas; for example, community-based tourism, sustainable agriculture, promotion of SMEs to gender equality, women empowerment and sustainable management of natural resources to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Furthermore, Deputy Director-General Arunee conveyed that Thailand reaffirms continued support for the Colombo Plan’s capacity building programme, and TICA will organise two training courses for member countries in the next year under the topics based on their priorities.