Thailand and the Republic of Korea to co-host the ASEAN Regional Forum
Disaster Relief Exercise (ARF DiREx) 2013 Initial Planning Conference (IPC)

On 14-16 January 2013, Thailand and the Republic of Korea will jointly host the ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief Exercise (ARF DiREx) 2013 Initial Planning Conference (IPC) at Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers. The Conference will be co-chaired by Mr. Arthayudh Srisamoot, Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs  of Thailand and Ms. Oh Young Ju, Deputy Director-General of the Development Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea and the Opening Ceremony will also be presided over by Mr. Chatchai Phromlert, Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Ministry of Interior of Thailand as the Chair of the ARF DiREx 2013 Thailand Executive Committee.

The ARF DiREx 2013 reflects Thailand’s commitment and active role in disaster management and will provide a platform for networking and exchange of knowledge, expertise and best practices among ARF members and relevant international agencies. The main organizers for Thailand are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Defense. First held in 2009, the ARF DiREx takes place every two years and are co-hosted by one of ASEAN Member States and one non-ASEAN ARF member. The exercise aims to enhance civilian-military coordination and cooperation in disasters relief as well as to promote exchange of expertise and best practices in disaster management among ARF participants which include the ten ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Dialogue Partners (Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, the United States and the European Union) and other countries in Asia-Pacific (Bangladesh, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste).

The Initial Planning Conference next week will bring together about 200 representatives from ARF members and relevant regional and international agencies which include United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre). It will provide participants with the opportunity to share their views, plan, and make recommendations for the ARF DiREx 2013, which will be held on 7-11 May 2013.

The Conference will be conducted in plenary session to plan and set modalities for the ARF DiREx 2013.
Thailand and the Republic of ROK will hold the Final Planning Conference on 1-3 April followed by the ARF DiREx 2013 on 7-11 May 2013 in Cha-am, Phetchaburi Province and Hua Hin, Prachuab Khiri Khan Province.

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