On 19 May 2022, Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, Director-General, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foregin Affairs, and Mr. MORITA Takahiro, Chief Representative, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Thailand Office, signed the Grant Agreement for the Programme for COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support at TICA. The Representatives from the Ministry of Public Health, the Embassy of Japan and JICA, Thailand Office also attended the signing ceremony.

The Agreement is an important instrument to implement the Programme for COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support, which is the Grant Aid provided by the Government of Japan of 500 Million Yen (133 Million Baht). It aims to strengthen the resilient health system to prepare for post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery in three areas, namely: upgrading quarantine measures at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and border checkpoints, supporting the COVID-19 vaccine cold chain logistics and enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic system in medical facilities located in Thailand’s border areas with Lao PDR, Cambodia, Myanmar and Malaysia.

This cooperation in public health between Thailand and Japan has built on successful development cooperation programmes on border health that TICA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health implemented before the COVID-19 outbreak as one of the focused areas of development cooperation. The programmes have significantly contributed to the effective disease control along the borders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, the cooperation between Thailand and Japan on the Programme for COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support not only represents the two countries’ close partnership for development but will also promote the well-being of the people in Thailand and her neigbouring countries.