Director – General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) agreed on 8 areas of cooperation in the 2nd Thailand – Cambodia Development Cooperation Programme for 2021-2023, namely, health, agriculture, education, economic development, community and rural development, social development, environment and human resource development. The Director – General also expressed readiness to share experience and expertise in handling the pandemic during the 15th Consultation on Technical Cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia

On 30 December 2020, H.E. Ms. Pattarat Hongtong, Director – General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and H.E. Mr. Im Sour, Deputy Secretary General of Council for the Development of Cambodia the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), co-chaired the 15th Consultation on Technical Cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia (via video conference). Representatives from several Ministries and agencies of Thailand and Cambodia also attended the meeting.

Both sides acknowledged the progress of the implementation of 20 development projects in three areas of cooperation (health, agriculture, education) under the 1st Thailand – Cambodia Three-Year Development Cooperation Programme (2017 – 2019/2020) as well as 6 development projects in other important areas that are in line with Cambodia’s National Development Strategy, e.g. skill development of labour along the border, anti-human trafficking, community development based on the application of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, and One Village One Product development. The Meeting also agreed on 8 areas of cooperation in the 2nd Thailand – Cambodia Development Cooperation Programme, namely: health, agriculture, education, economic development, community and rural development, social development, environment and human resource development, which is in line with Cambodia’s National Development Strategy and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Meeting noted with satisfaction the progress of development cooperation in human resource development (HRD) sector which is the backbone of Thailand – Cambodia Development Cooperation. Thailand reaffirmed her continued support for Cambodia’s capacity building through all possible channels, e.g. Annual International Training Course (AITC), Thailand International Postgraduate Programme (TIPP) as well as trilateral cooperation and regional cooperation toward revitalizing global partnerships as indicated in Goal 17 of SDGs.

Thai side is keen to share experience and expertise in promoting security and resilience in 4 key areas namely: health security, job security, food security and energy security. While Cambodia expressed her appreciation to the Thai side and satisfaction with the development cooperation between the two countries over the past three years, which yielded fruitful results and helped support the socio-economic development in Cambodia, particulary Sustainable Community Development Project based on the Application of SEP in Dam Bok Vil, Banteay Meanchey, the Establishment of OVOP Regional Promoting Center, Communicable Diseases Surveillance, Prevention and Control including Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases.

The 16th Consultation on Technical Cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia will be hosted by Thailand in the third quarter of 2021.