During 20-22 August 2025, Mrs. Arunee Hiam, Deputy Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) attended 9^th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) held at Yokohama.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), hosted the meeting as a forum for high-level exchange and dialogue on African development. The event was presided over by H.E. Mr. Shigeru Ishiba, the Prime Minister of Japan and discussion revolved around 3 key areas i.e. (1) economy : focusing on private-sector-led economic growth (2) society : promoting youth and women empowerment and access to education, public health and public services (3) peace and security : strengthening human security and development, promoting conflict resolution, and combating transnational crime as well as extremism in Africa.

The Deputy Director-General contributed to 2 thematic events, as follows:

(1) A Brighter Future for Small-Scale Farmers – the Journey and Impact of the SHEP Approach in Africa and Beyond : Mrs. Arunee emphasized Thailand’s readiness to work under Thailand-Japan-Lao PDR triangular cooperation in Sustainable Community Development Program based on the Application of Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) and Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP), to be commenced this year. She pointed out the complementarity between the two concepts, which would lead to tangible and sustainable development, as well as reaffirmed Thailand’s readiness to work with Japan in applying SEP with SHEP in Africa.

(2) Cooperation with Africa from Different Continents : Addressing the panel, she reiterated Thailand’s development cooperation for Africa, with Africa, and in Africa, in terms of bilateral, trilateral, and within regional frameworks. Thailand focused on people-centered development, in which people and stakeholders are included along the process of decision-making, and become the true beneficiaries of development effort. Mrs. Arunee reaffirmed Thailand’s readiness to work with Global North and Global South for African sustainable development.

Throughout the past 3 years, Africa has been the third largest receiver of Thailand’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) after Southeast Asia and South Asia.