On 19 May 2022, Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) of the Ministry of Foregin Affairs, and Mr. MORITA Takahiro, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Thailand Office, signed the Grant Agreement for the Programme for COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support. The Representatives from the Ministry of Public Health, the Embassy of Japan and JICA, Thailand Office also attended the signing ceremony which took place at TICA, Government Complex.

The Grant Agreement signing followed the Exchange of Notes regarding the Programme for COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support signed by the Director-General of TICA and H.E. Mr. NASHIDA Kazuya, Ambassador of Japan to Thailand, during the Official Visit to Thailand by H.E. Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan on 2 May 2022 at the Government House.

The Grant Agreement will help steer forward the plan to provide medical equipment and the plan to transfer Japan’s public health technology in order to strengthen Thailand’s resilient health system for post-COVID-19 recovery under the 500 Million Yen (approximately 133 Million Baht) provided by the Government of Japan. It focuses on three areas: (1) upgrading quarantine measures at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and border checkpoints; (2) supporting the COVID-19 vaccine cold chain logistics; and (3) enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic system in medical facilities located along Thailand’s border areas with Lao PDR, Cambodia, Myanmar and Malaysia.

This cooperation has built on successful development cooperation programmes on border health that TICA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, has implemented before the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, the Programme for COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support not only represents the two countries’ close partnership for development but will also promote the well-being of the people in Thailand and her neigbouring countries.