On 12 January 2017, the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations, in cooperation with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), will launch a publication entitled “Sustainability in Thailand: Experience for Developing Countries” and convene a panel discussion under the theme “Pathways to Sustainability: Thailand’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy” at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and will be chaired by His Excellency Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, and Mr. Jorge Chediek, Envoy of the Secretary-General on South-South Cooperation and Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).  

            The publication launch event will be held on the eve of the handover ceremony of the chairmanship of the Group of 77 from Thailand to Ecuador. This publication, jointly published by the Royal Thai Government and the UNOSSC, is the first in the ‘South-South In Action’ Publication Series, and highlights the important role the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, as graciously bestowed by His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej to the people of Thailand over two decades ago, in the development of the Kingdom. While paying tribute to His Majesty the late King and his royal duties in the field of development, the publication will provide insights into Thailand’s successful initiatives and undertakings both at the policy-maker and practitioner levels. Thailand’s home-grown approach and development experiences are shared as lessons learnt for other countries in their pursuit of sustainable development.

            Following the publication launch, a panel discussion under the theme “Pathways to Sustainability: Thailand’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy” will be convened. The panel consists of Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of Argentina and Sri Lanka to the United Nations and Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) who will share their perspectives based on their respective country’s experiences in South-South cooperation with particular emphasis on the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. The interactive panel discussion will also be participated by high-level officials and experts from different countries and entities of the United Nations, with the objective to strengthen a more impactful South-South cooperation.

            The publication launch and panel discussion could be viewed at http://webtv.un.org on 12 January 2017 at 16.30 - 18.00 hrs. local time in New York (04.30 – 06.00 hrs. on 13 January 2017 local time in Thailand).