On 19 October 2020, Ms. Pattarat Hongtong, Director-General of TICA co-chaired the 1^st Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting of OGOP Model II Project with Mr. Tashi, Deputy Chamberlain, Queen’s Project Office (QPO) via Zoom. The meeting was attended by Mrs. Sasitorn Wongweerachotkit, Deputy Director-General of TICA; Asso. Prof. Watcharapong Wattanakul, Dean of Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Chiang Mai Ratchabhat University; Mrs. Charintip Yosthasan, Director of Thai Cooperation (II) of TICA and concerned officials from both sides.

The PSC meeting is expected to take place once a year. Its main objectives are for both sides to review the progress, disucss the pending issues and plan a way forward. This meeting was held for the first time since the Project’s inception following competion of the OGOP Model I Project in September 2019. Indeed, the meeting was timely hosted especially due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Project’s 3-year workplan.

Both sides agreed to advance this cooperation and proceed with the implementation of activites outlined in the project workplan. During the year of 2021, the focus will be on capacity building of Bhutanese concerned officers and especially community leaders (also known as “SMART leaders”) in the six participating Dzongkhags (districts) via distant and on-site training to be conducted by Thai and Bhutanese experts respectively. The aim is to strengthen and/or establish Community Learning Centres (CLCs) in the said communities and to develop community OGOP products according to their respective potentials. In this regard, the QPO also announced financial support for the construction of CLCs and/or in other forms on a cost-sharing basis along with TICA’s support.

In addition, TICA is delighted to learn about developments of the OGOP Model I Project’s outputs and outcomes that continue to flourish. These include, for example, expansion of the OGOP outlets which are under supervision of the QPO and located at (1) Paro Interntional Airport (refurbishment in progress and due to be re-opened in December 2020), (2) Craft Bazaar and (3) Ecological Park in Thimphu. In addition, recently on 13 October 2020 coinciding with the 8^th Royal Wedding Anniversary of their Majesties the King and Queen of Bhutan as well as the QPO’s foundation day, five new OGOP products have been launched including Turmuric and Cardamon flavoured Honey, Honey with Cordycep, Quinoa Cereal Balls and Perilla Dalle Paste. On this regard, TICA extended sincerest congratulations to the QPO and reiterated that TICA is determined to provide further support in the needed areas to strengthen the existing mechanisms and especially in terms of capacity development of QPO staff which lies at the core of Thailand’s development cooperation.

Note: Visit OGOP facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OGOPBhutan to find more details of OGOP outlets and products.