On 25 March 2025, Mr. Chulvat Narinthrangura, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), co-chaired TICA-JICA Annual Meeting for Technical Cooperation JFY 2026, together with Mr. SAKUDO Shunsuke, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Thailand Office. Participants in the meeting included Mrs. Arunee Hiam, Deputy Director-General of TICA, Ms. Chidchanok Malayawong, Director of Development Promotion and Coordination Division, Mrs. Chachsaran Lertkiattiwong, Director of International Development Cooperation Division, Mr. Grisada Phakakarn, Director of Human Resources Development Cooperation Division, representatives from the Embassy of Japan, as well as TICA and JICA staff. 

The meeting, held annually, serves as a high-level mechanism in which heads of TICA and JICA agreed on TICA-JICA policy direction in the forthcoming Japanese Fiscal Year 2026. The development cooperation policy of each side was also reviewed, followed by discussion on projects and activities anticipated within this year, both bilateral and trilateral cooperation, such as the Project on an application of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) of Thailand, integrated with Japan’s approach on Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) to Lao PDR, the Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) for ASEAN countries, and the Friend From Thailand (FFT) volunteers programme to work in Japan.  

Both sides expressed their readiness to address emerging transboundary issues, with particular focus on border health, through urgent human resource development programme and providing necessary equipment. 

On this occasion, Director-General of TICA commended Japan’s active engagement in technical cooperation with Thailand for over 70 years, which has laid a solid foundation for close bilateral relations. He reaffirmed his commitment for an even closer partnership with Mr. SAKUDO for mutual benefit of both countries and their peoples, as well as sustainable development of the Mekong Sub-region and beyond.