On 26 July 2023, Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), welcomed H.E. Mrs. Shirley Dennise Aguilar Barrera, Ambassador of Guatemala to Thailand, upon her assumption of duty.  Ms. Chidchanok Malayawong, Director of Development Promotion and Coordination Division as well as staff from TICA and the Embassy of Guatemala to Thailand also attended at the Reception Room, TICA.

Ambassador of Guatemala expressed her appreciation to TICA’s scholarship support for a Guatemalan diplomat studying a master’s degree of Arts Program in Diplomacy and International Studies at Rangsit University, which is to celebrate the 65^th Anniversary of Thailand and Guatemala Diplomatic Relations.  Director-General of TICA encouraged Guatemala to maximize the use on TICA’s available scholarships through the Annual International Training Courses (AITC) and the Thailand International Post-graduate Programme (TIPP) covering 6 themes namely Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP), Agricultural and Food Security, Climate Change and Environmental Issues, Public Health, BCG Economy and SDGs related areas.  Further information can be found via TICA’s scholarships website: www.tica-scholarship.com.

Both sides agreed to enhance development cooperation between Thailand and Guatemala, particularly in the sectors of mutual interests such as agriculture, tourism, people with disabilities, human resource development, and BCG Economy Model.  On this occasion, the Director-General also invited the Ambassador of Guatemala to the 8^th TICA Connect titled “Enhancing International Development Cooperation for Sustainable Future”, which will be held on 24 August 2023 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and TICA’s invitation letters have already been circulated to the diplomatic missions in Bangkok.  the Ambassador of Guatemala confirmed her attendance.