The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand opened a platform for stakeholders to present projects, field work and studies on economic and social issues to accelerate Thailand’s achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as well as to exchange views on the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis on households, whereby outcomes of the discussion will be presented to the national sub-committee to advance the SDGs and the National Committee for Sustainable Development (CSD).

On 12 November 2020, Mr. Nadhavathna Krishnamra, Director-General of the Department of International Organisations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, chaired the first meeting of the Open-ended Working Group for the Sustainable Development Goals (OEWG for SDGs), organised by the Department of International Organisations. The meeting was participated by more than 100 representatives from the civil society, academia, and government agencies.

The OEWG for SDGs was established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2018 to support efforts to advance implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country. It has since served as a platform to present projects, field work, and studies on economic and social issues, sharing best practices and concerns, as well as exchanging ideas and policy recommendations which would enhance the participatory process of learning, discussion, and exchange of knowledge and ideas among all sectors in a frank and candid manner. The outcomes of the discussion will be presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the national sub-committee to advance the SDGs and the National Committee for Sustainable Development (CSD).

At the meeting, participants were updated on the important progress towards the implementation of the SDGs both at the national and international levels, including the establishment of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Thailand. Participants also exchanged views on the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis on households, as well as issues concerning social welfare, social protection, and public space and green space management, presented by civil society organisations, which are important issues relevant to many of the SDGs. They also discussed ways to accelerate the achievement of SDG Goal No. 3 on good health and well-being.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the main agency responsible for SDG Goal No. 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), strongly advocates for the participation of all stakeholders, especially the civil society, in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), towards the realisation of the SDGs in Thailand by 2030.