On 29 December 2021, Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) welcomed Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director of Mekong Institute (MI) and discussed on the policy advocacy for MI

They discussed a wide-range of issues including implementation of the MI Strategic Plan 2021-2025, recommendations to strengthen capacity of countries in Mekong Sub-region based on Mekong home-grown initiatives as well as the revised plan for the 25th Anniversary campaign.

They also exchanged views on how to tap the potential and utilise Thailand's knowledge and expertise to enhance capacity of member countries and ways and means to strengthen cooperation and network with development partners, e.g. Australia and New Zealand as well as to raise visibility of MI among the regional and international organisations.

MI was formed by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Thailand’s Department of Technical and Economic Cooperation (currently Thailand International Cooperation Agency) in 1996 to promote economic development and cooperation in the GMS.