On 23 February 2023, Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) invited TICA’s development partners to visit the Asia-Pacific Development Center for Disability (APCD) in Bangkok. The delegates were warmly welcomed by Mr. Piroon Laismit, Executive Director of the APCD. Seven of TICA’s development partners joined the visit, namely; Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), U.S. Agency for International Development Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA), Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Australian Embassy, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and U.S. Peace Corps.

The delegates were briefed on the APCD’s mission and priorities as a regional center for skills training and empowerment of persons with disabilities and then taken to visit the APCD 60+ Plus Bakery & Chocolate Café, where all of the employed staff are persons with disabilities, and the APCD’s hospitality training center. They also enjoyed lunch at the APCD 60+ Plus Kitchen by CP, a disability-inclusive restaurant that provides training in culinary service and employment for persons with disabilities.

TICA attaches great importance to inclusive development that leaves no one behind and has had collaborations with the APCD on numerous projects. The visit to the APCD today was a new initiative of Director-General Ureerat and TICA to enhance APCD’s visibility in international fora as well as to provide an opportunity to explore the potential for further collaborations with the APCD. The delegates expressed their great appreciation for the APCD’s work, noting that the APCD is recognized as a model for promoting better and sustainable living for persons with disabilities. The visit concluded with the delegates thanking Director-General Ureerat and TICA for the constructive initiative and for arranging the visit to the APCD.