On 13 December 2021, H.E. Mr. Chutintorn Gongsakdi, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand along with Mr. Phuchphop Mongkolnavin, Deputy Director-General, Acting Director-General of the Department of International Organizations attended the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the commencement of the construction phase of the seismic mitigation retrofit and life-cycle replacements project at the premises of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) or SMP Project. The event was attended by Mrs. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the UNESCAP and a representative from Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co, Ltd. (SMCC), the company that was awarded the contract for the main construction work of the project.

On this occasion, the Deputy Permanent Secretary delivered a statement stressing the role of Thailand as the host country to UNESCAP. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has worked closely with UNESCAP to provide assistance and support for the implementation of the project especially the arrangement of various meetings between UNESCAP and the relevant Thai authorities to exchange knowledge and expertise. Moreover, the Thai private sector was encouraged to participate in the tendering process of goods and services of the SMP project which allowed UNESCAP to locate competent Thai bidders and to use materials available and manufactured locally. Also, it is an opportunity for Thai vendors to develop business partnership with UN Procurement officials and provide goods and services to potential new markets.

The 71st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA71) approved the SMP project in 2016, with an overall budget of USD 40.019 million (approximately 1.2 billion baht). The project consists of 5 phases including the Planning, Design, Tendering, Construction and Close-out Phases. The project was officially commenced on 1 January 2017 and are expected to be completed by 31 December 2023.