During 12 – 14 July 2017, Mrs. Suphatra Srimaitreephithak, Director-General of the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, attended the Mekong Institute Council Meeting 1/2017 and assumed the Mekong Institute Council Chairmanship from 5 August 2017 – 4 August 2019 at the Mekong Institute in Khon Kaen, Thailand. At the same time, Myanmar’s chairmanship will end on 4 August 2017. The Director-General also attended the Mekong Forum 2017, organized under the theme “New Geo-Economics: Reshaping the Future of the GMS” at Pullman Khon Kaen Raja Orchid Hotel.

          Many Thai Government Agencies, including the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), the Department of International Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, and Khon Kean Province have benefited from the Mekong Institute as an organization conducting projects and activities in order to develop and empower human resource capacity building of government officials in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS). Over the years, Mekong Institute’s activities have linked the GMS sub-region and facilitated trade under the bilateral, trilateral and other forms of regional cooperation such as Mekong – Japan and Mekong – Republic of Korea.

          The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognizes the Mekong Institute’s role as a vital player in the sub-region for its activities such as supporting research, organizing training courses, and providing consulting services, which also contributes to Thailand’s 20-Year National Strategy.