On 29 June 2007 Mr. Nitya Pibulsonggram, Foreign Minister, and Datos Seri Syed Hamid bin Syed Jaafar Albar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, presented certificates to 34 Thai youths from the South of Thailand who attended and completed training courses at GIATMARA, vocational training institute of Malaysia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This training is a part of larger frameworks of the Thailand-Malaysia Committee on Joint Development Strategy for the border area (JDS) with the goal to improve the quality of life of peoples in the border area of the two countries as well as to stimulate economic growth in southern Thailand and the northern states of Malaysia.