Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs gave an opening remarks at the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Forum 2021, highlighting the importance of partnership on human capital development in Southeast Asia especially reskilling workforce for transition to digital economy, BCG economy and ageing society to build back better from COVID-19.

On 20 May 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) co-hosted the OECD Southeast Asia (SEA) Regional Forum 2021 on “Human Capital Development in Southeast Asia: Fostering Competitiveness to Build Back Better” in virtual format, with over 700 attendees from Southeast Asia and OECD countries.

On this occasion, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered opening remarks at the Forum, highlighting the importance of partnership on human capital development especially on the upskilling and reskilling workforce for transition to digital economy, Bio-Circular-Green Economy, and ageing society for a balanced and sustainable growth in the post-COVID-19 era. H.E. Mr. Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD, and H.E. Mr. Choi Joong-Moon, 2nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, reiterated the importance of human capital development and preparing the workforce in Southeast Asia for the changing world of work.

On the following day, 21 May 2021, the Forum’s outcomes was further discussed via videoconference at the 7th Steering Group Meeting (SGM) of OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme (SEARP). Mr. Cherdchai Chaivaivid, Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs, co-chair of the 7th SGM, stressed the importance of translating the outcome of the Forum into tangible outcomes to contribute to the human capital development agenda in Southeast Asia. In addition, “Green Recovery” and “Tourism” – a sector severely hit by COVID-19 – should be added as new workstreams to benefit the peoples in the region. The meeting agreed on further collaboration to advance human
capital development in Southeast Asia.

SEARP was launched in 2014 to promote collaboration between the OECD and the ASEAN by supporting regional integration efforts, promoting domestic reform processes, and bringing Southeast Asia closer to the OECD bodies, standards and good practices. The programme covers 11 areas of collaboration, such as investment, tax, innovation, gender, and MSMEs. Thailand has co-chaired the SEARP Steering Group with the Republic of Korea since 2018.