From 21–23 September 2026, a delegation from the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), led by Lt. Sorawud Preededilok, Minister attached to TICA, together with representatives of the Royal Thai Embassy in Pretoria and an expert from the Royal Irrigation Department, visited the Kingdom of Lesotho to follow up on the Sustainable Agriculture Development Project in the Kingdom of Lesotho and discuss the revitalisation of the Koete Learning Centre for the Application of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy in Matsieng, located on land belonging to His Majesty King Letsie III of the Kingdom of Lesotho.

During the visit, the Thai side held discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition of Lesotho. Both sides agreed that the rehabilitation and improvement of the Centre’s irrigation system should be a key priority in supporting agricultural production, demonstration and knowledge transfer for farmers and local communities.

An expert from the Royal Irrigation Department also conducted a field survey covering the water source system, water pipelines, storage tanks and supplementary water sources, with a view to planning the repair and improvement of the irrigation system to enhance its efficiency and suitability for local conditions. The approach focuses on making the best possible use of existing infrastructure and resources. The Royal Irrigation Department will subsequently prepare technical details and cost estimates for consideration in the next stage.

The next phase will focus on further developing the Koete Learning Centre as a platform for agricultural learning, demonstration and knowledge transfer based on the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, while strengthening Lesotho’s ownership and capacity to manage and maintain the Centre sustainably for the benefit of farmers and local communities.

Both sides also discussed human resource development through training programmes and scholarships offered by the Royal Thai Government, with a view to strengthening the capacity of Lesotho personnel and further advancing development cooperation between Thailand and Lesotho as the two countries approach the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2029.