On 4 April 2023, Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), welcomed Ms. Ulrika Modéer, UN Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy, UNDP, and Ms. Lovita Ramguttee, Resident Representative ad interim. Also present at the meeting at TICA were Ms. Chidchanok Malayawong, Director of Development Promotion and Coordination Division and officials from both agencies.

 

UNDP Assistant Administrator commended Thailand for its leading role as an emerging donor country, particularly the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy which serves as a practical development modality. At a time when the international community faces multi-faceted challenges such as international economic and financial uncertainties, and natural disasters, development cooperation stands to benefit from the principles of moderation, resiliency, and sustainability. UNDP is the UN organization with the most “boots on the ground” because of its broad mandate encompassing assistance to Member States in policy formulation and execution, institutions building, poverty eradication, raising standard of living, climate change, and biodiversity, etc. To meet these challenges, UNDP utilizes systems and digital solutions.

 

Director-General of TICA expressed appreciation of the longstanding partnership between UNDP and TICA through South-South and triangular cooperation in various development areas. Furthermore, TICA is the agency that puts the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy into action with development partners around the world through the focus in 4 security areas namely Food, Health, Job, and Energy and Environment. TICA is also the coordinating agency for the 3rd Pillar of ACMECS 5-year Master Plan, the so-called “Smart and Sustainable ACMECS”.

 

Both sides also discussed opportunities for future cooperation under South-South and triangular cooperation, and Thailand-UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD) 2022-2026 in mutually agreed areas. Initial areas of cooperation could include smart agriculture, and smart and sustainable tourism, through various forms of collaboration such as knowledge exchange, sharing of experiences and good practices, especially in areas of UNDP’s expertise such as integrated solutions systems and digital solutions. Such cooperation will enhance Thailand’s role in international development cooperation and elevate Thailand’s partnership with UNDP, towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).