On   Friday, 2  March  2018, at 14.00 hrs., the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) organized the Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony for the construction of the new building of Central Blood Transfusion Service (CBTS) of the NRCS  on Exhibition Road in Kathmandu. This construction project has received 4 million USD assistance from the Thai Red Cross Society (TRCS) to reconstruct a new building for CBTS which was previously affected by the earthquake in 2015. Participants of the Ceremony from the Thai side were H.E. Mr.  Bhakavat   Tanskul, Ambassador of Thailand to Nepal and Commander Dr. Ubonwon Charoonruangrit, M.D., Director of the National Blood Center of the TRCS where as Mr. Sanjeev Thapa, Chairman of the NRCS and Mr. Bidhya Sundar Shakya, Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City were the participants from the Nepal side. Additionally, present at the Ceremony were Ms. Wassika Phueaksomon, Director of International Relations Department of TRCS, representatives from Ministry of Health of Nepal and media.

          The construction of a new CBTS building was a result of the Memorandum of Understanding  (MOU)  between  the Thai  Red  Cross  Society and the Nepal Red Cross Society on Blood Transfusion Service signed in 2015.  The purpose of the MOU is to facilitate bilateral partnership between the TRCS and NRCS and to support the NRCS in providing safe and efficient blood transfusion services to the Nepali people.

          The new Central Blood Transfusion Service Building will be a milestone and important symbol of friendship between the TRCS and NRCS as well as future cooperation between Thailand and Nepal.