On 19 April 2021, Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, Director-General of  Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) delivered remarks at the opening of the Chile-Thailand International Workshop on Trade Policy for ASEAN Members. With the complementary and coordinated expertise of Thailand and Chile under the trilateral cooperation framework, the Workshop is held during 19-30 April 2021 and attended by 18 participants from ASEAN Member States and 12 observers from Chile. 

The Workshop comes under the umbrella of the 3-year Development Cooperation Programme between Thailand and Chile during the years of 2019-2021 and is an important step towards strengthening the cooperation among Thailand, Chile, and ASEAN.

The Director-General commended the concerted efforts and strong support of both Chilean and Thai agencies, namely the Chilean International Cooperation Agency for Development (AGCID), Undersecretariat of International Economic Affairs (SUBREI) of Chile, thand Mekong Institute Thailand, in organizing the Workshop. It will be a platform for both professionals and practitioners to reflect and share knowledge and experience in the making of trade policies, agreements and other economic cooperation. For ASEAN, it offers an opportunity to learn from the Chilean experience in formulating trade strategies and techniques for trade negotiations. Both ASEAN participants and Chilean experts will also explore the digital transformation know-how and solutions in order to meet trade and investment objectives and expectations during the COVID-19 recovery process and in the aftermath.

In this regard, Mr. Cristian Jara, Executive Director of Chilean International Cooperation Agency for Development (AGCID) and Mr. Christian Rehren, Ambassador of the Republic of Chile to Thailand, jointly delivered opening remarks, expressing the hope that today’s cooperative programme will lead to enhanced cooperation in the areas of trade and investment between Chile and ASEAN.