On 6 December 2024, H.E. Mr. Chutintorn Gongsakdi, Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Minister, received a courtesy call and had a discussion with Mr. Benjamin P. Reyes, Secretary-General of the Colombo Plan, during his visit to Thailand.
Both sides exchanged views on establishing the Colombo Plan's field office in Thailand and strengthening development cooperation between Thailand and the Colombo Plan, particularly in three areas namely transnational crime, water management and air pollution. In addition, they also discussed the possibility of the re-establishment of scholarships programme under the Colombo Plan.
The Colombo Plan was established in 1951 to promote the economic and social development of the countries in Asia and the Pacific, currently consisting of 28 Member Countries. The Secretariat is situated in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Thailand joined the Plan in 1954 and has since played an active role by sharing best practices and offering training programs in such areas as agriculture and food security, community-based tourism, SMEs, and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP). These initiatives aim to promote SDGs attainment among the Colombo Plan’s Member Stat