On 15 September 2017, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) co-hosted the 3rd TICA Connect at Vithes Samosorn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to showcase and share Thailand and Japan’s development partnership cooperation 

          On this occasion, H.E. Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave opening remarks marking the 130th Anniversary of Thailand – Japan diplomatic relations, and noted Japan’s Official Development Assistance’s (ODA) contribution for more than six decades towards Thailand’s development in infrastructure, social services, and human resource development. He also expressed appreciation for JICA’s Country Strategy for Thailand and the outcome of the 3rd Meeting of the Japan – Thailand High Level Joint Commission on 7 June 2017 in Tokyo which focused on Thailand’s sustainable economic growth and infrastructure. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs also emphasized Thailand’s determination to promote Goal 17: the Global Partnership for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and active partnership between Japan and Thailand for “North-South-South Cooperation” in CLMV and Africa. He stressed both sides’ commitment to the Mekong region  including the announcement of the Japan- Mekong Connectivity Initiative and Thailand’s coming chairmanship of ACMECS, and Thailand’s role as a development partner of Japan in ASEAN and Mekong region.  

          The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted the importance of Partnership Arrangement (PA) in strengthening partnership and cooperation between the two countries and in supporting Thailand’s promotion of “Sufficiency Economy Philosophy(SEP)” as a model for sustainable development projects in other developing countries across the world.

          The audiences witnessed the special occasion of the signing of Partnership Arrangement (PA) between the Director-General of TICA and the Director-General of Southeast Asia and Pacific Department from JICA Headquarters to intensify further partnership cooperation in tangent with Japan’s launching of the “Japan – Mekong Connectivity Initiative (JMCI)” in 2016 and Thailand’s determination in promoting the application of “SEP” as a tool for development cooperation in other developing countries to achieve the SDGs.

          All stakeholders from Thai and Japanese public and private agencies as well as  development partners in Thailand acknowledged the role of Japan’s ODA to Thailand from Technical Cooperation Projects and ODA Loans in strengthening various sectors such as physical infrastructure, social service facilities, environment and industrial human resource development. This event also provided a forum for discussion and the exchange of views on the future direction of Thailand and Japan’s partnership cooperation in promoting ‘Global Partnership for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’, the United Nations’ development challenge in 2030.

          The event also featured an exhibition displaying TICA and JICA and their bilateral development assistances as well as TICA and JICA partnership cooperation with exhibits on the Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) for CLMV, and Triangular Cooperation for Myanmar, Palestine, and Africa. These also included booths from the training organizers in Thailand namely Kasetsart University (Kamphaeng Saen Campus), the ASEAN Institute for Health Development (AIHD), Dusit Thani College, and the JICA Alumni Association of Thailand (JAAT).

          The event was aimed at raising awareness of outstanding Thailand and Japan technical cooperation projects. Japan is not only the top but one of the longest development partners of Thailand since it first launched Official Development Assistance (ODA) in Thailand since 1954 (more than 60 years ago).  The third TICA Connect also highlighted partnership for development cooperation, or “Triangular Cooperation”, between the Royal Thai Government through TICA and the Government of Japan through JICA, to provide technical assistance in capacity building and human resource development for other developing countries and to share Thailand’s technology and best practices to narrow development gaps particularly in ASEAN and Mekong region.