On 23 February 2021, Ambassador Nipon Petchpornprapas and Counsellor Jirajett Wongnorraset and Consellor Paveena Sutthisripok of the Royal Thai Embassy visited the community agricultural development project at the Abbaye de Keur Moussa, in Thies, about 60 km from the centre of Dakar. Recognising the crucial role the Abbaye has played in promoting livelihood and sustainability in the community and the vicinity, Thailand, through TICA and the Royal Thai Embassy, presented a Solar Dryer Parabola Dome to the Abbaye in 2016, for drying agricultural products such as mangoes, papayas, gingers and grapefruits grown in the community.

During the visit, Abbot Olivier-Marie Sarr showed the Embassy’s delegates around the area to see how the Abbaye has supported the community, including the establishment of the Centre for Agricultural Training at Keur Moussa as well as a kindergarten and a primary school. Both sides agree that technical know-how from Thailand on sustainable agriculture, food processing, packaging, handicraft making as well as community development can further support the self-sustainable community.

It is hoped that this continued collaboration will help strengthen the Thai-Senegalese relations at the people-to-people level as well as highlight the role of Thailand as a development partner in the international arena.