On 17 August 2026, Mrs. Arunee Hiam, Deputy Director-General of the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), represented TICA at the Opening Ceremony of the “Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response” Training Course under the 2026 Thailand-Singapore Third Country Training Programme (TCTP), held at the S.D. Avenue Hotel, Bangkok. The Opening Ceremony was also attended by Mr. Saharat Wongskulwiwat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), and Ms. Ang Yee Tien, Counsellor of the Embassy of Singapore in Thailand, who delivered remarks at the ceremony.

The training course was jointly organised by TICA and the Development Partnerships Directorate (DPD), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, from 17–21 August 2026, with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation serving as the co-host. A total of 23 participants from eight countries, namely Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Bhutan, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Thailand, as well as officials from the ASEAN Secretariat, attended the training. The Singaporean side supported the course by providing resource persons from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), who shared their knowledge, expertise, and practical experience in disaster preparedness and emergency response with the participants.

As part of the course, the participants also undertook a study visit to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Command Centre, located at the Thani Nopparat Building, Bangkok City Hall, Din Daeng. Representatives from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration provided a briefing on the use of data and technology to support urban management and enhance public safety.

The BMA Command Centre has three main areas of responsibility: (1) emergency operations in response to disasters and emergencies; (2) management during normal circumstances, including monitoring traffic conditions and addressing day-to-day public complaints and incidents; and (3) public safety and welfare monitoring, including ensuring safety during festivals and other major events and activities.

Thailand and Singapore remain committed to sharing knowledge, experience, and expertise to promote sustainable development and narrow development gaps among ASEAN Member States and countries in South Asia. The two countries have continuously collaborated in organising training courses in various fields under the Thailand-Singapore Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) since 1997, in response to the evolving development needs and challenges of the region.

In 2027, the Thailand-Singapore TCTP will mark its 30th anniversary. In this regard, both sides have agreed to organise activities to share and showcase the stories, experiences, and key achievements of Thailand-Singapore cooperation over the past three decades, as well as to highlight the Programme’s role in promoting international development cooperation in the region.

On this occasion, Mrs. Arunee expressed her appreciation to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation for its cooperation in organising the training course. She emphasised that development cooperation is fostered through mutual learning and the sharing of experiences. She also expressed her strong hope that the participants would be able to apply the knowledge, skills, and experiences gained from the training in ways appropriate to the context of their respective countries. This, in turn, would contribute to strengthening preparedness for disasters and emergencies, as well as promoting inclusive, participatory, and sustainable communities and societies.