On 7 April 2023, at the invitation of Mr. SUZUKI Kazuya, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Thailand Office, Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), visited JICA, Thailand Office and attended TICA-JICA Annual Meeting on Technical Cooperation JFY 2024. Mrs. Arunee Hiam, Deputy Director-General of TICA, Ms. Chidchanok Malayawong, Director of Development Promotion and Coordination Division, officers and staff from TICA, JICA, and Embassy of Japan were also present at the meeting.

Both sides exchanged the development cooperation policies of each other towards 2023-2024. Director-General Ureerat gave an overview of Thailand’s current Development Policy which puts people at the center of development. Thus, TICA’s Development Cooperation Policy focuses on ensuring human security in four aspects (4S), namely health, food, job and Energy&Environment. in implementing development cooperation projects and activities, Thailand also applies Sufficient Economy Philosophy (SEP), which is Thailand’s home-grown development approach.

Director-General Ureerat also stressed the importance of reaching out development cooperation works to other stakeholders, most particularly the private sector. Such Public-Private Partnership for People (PPPP) approach could scale up the outcome of development cooperation for greater benefit of local people and make government efforts more inclusive and sustainable. With regard to partnership for development in the region, Director-General Ureerat appreciated Japan’s constructive role as an important Development Partner of ACMECS and informed that Thailand is Coordinator of the 3^rd Pillar of ACMECS Master Plan, known as Smart and Sustainable ACMECS. In this regard Director-General Ureerat invited the Japanese side to join hands with Thailand in providing development cooperation to ACMECS member countries for example co-sponsor of scholarships or co-organising training courses in the areas that meet development needs of the recipient countries. In turn, this will helps reduce development gap within the ASEAN.

Mr. Suzuki presented an overview of Japan’s development policy towards Thailand and elaborated on the drafting of Japan Country Analysis Paper (JCAP) for Thailand. JCAP will serve as a strategic guideline for Japan’s future development cooperation with Thailand. The document underlines the importance of two countries’ development cooperation both at bilateral level and as partnership for development, especially in Mekong Sub-region and Southeast Asian region.

The meeting also discussed the procedure for the project proposal submission and consideration for Japanese Fiscal Year 2024 (Needs Survey for JFY 2024).