On 18 July 2017, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs, led the Thai delegation to present Thailand’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the progress it has made in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) which was convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The presentation covered (1) important progress to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities, the success story of Thailand’s Universal Health Coverage and public health services as well as the implementation of Pracharat policy to engage all stakeholders in development efforts (2) national mechanisms on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development such as the national Committee for Sustainable Development (CSD) chaired by the Prime Minister (3) the promotion of Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) as Thailand’s home-grown approach to achieve the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development leaving no one behind whereby Thailand stands ready to cooperate with other countries through its SEP  for SDGs Partnership initiative. 

 

Members of the Thai private sector and youth also joined the Thai delegation in the VNR presentation. Mr. Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, President and CEO of Thai Beverage Public Company Limited, Head of the Private Sector team on the Grassroots and Public-Private ‘Pracharat’ Collaboration Development Group, presented about the private sector’s active engagement, through Pracharat policy, to advance the SDGs and Mr. Potcharapol Prommatat, Faculty of Economic, Chulalongkorn University, a youth delegate, shared Thai youth’s view and their roles as change agents who will drive Thailand on a path of sustainable development.

 

Following the VNR presentation, the Thai delegation also answered questions by representatives of Member States and Major Groups on Thailand’s challenges in achieving SDGs and future steps on the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as the government’s policies on stakeholder engagement and inequalities.

 

The presentation of Thailand’s VNR at the 2017 HLPF, which was done on a voluntary basis, not only reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, but it also provided the opportunity for Thailand to share Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) as its home-grown approach towards achieving the 2030 Agenda. During HLPF this year, 44 countries volunteered to present their VNRs.