On 23 March 2023, H.E. Mr. Sarun Charoensuwan, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, together with Mrs. Phantipha Iamsudha Ekarohit, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Mrs. Eksiri Pintaruchi, Director-General of Department of International Organizations, paid a visit to the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) upon the invitation of Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

On this occasion, PS Sarun attended the working luncheon hosted by Ms. Armida. The two sides discussed ways to encourage more Thai vendors and suppliers to engage in business with the UN through a dedicated UN procurement platform and more Thai nationals to work at the UN affiliated agencies. The concerned parties also exchanged views on the preparation towards the upcoming two meetings to be held by UNESCAP, namely, the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development 2023 (27-30 March 2023) and the 79th UNESCAP Commission Session (15 – 19 May 2023).

After the luncheon, PS Sarun took a guided tour at the UNCC. This was an opportunity to follow up the ongoing renovation project under the name “Seismic mitigation retrofit and life-cycle replacements project at the ESCAP premises in Bangkok (SMP).” In this regard, Permanent Secretary commended the progress made which would further enhance occupational health and safety of staff and visitors in the premises. He also expressed Thailand’s support for the implementation of the project, an appropriate allocation of resources by the UN General Assembly, the coordination between UNESCAP and local authorities, as well as the use of local materials and expertise.

The SMP project is one of the UN’s major constructions and renovation projects. In 2016, the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly approved its implementation with 6 years of timeframe and 40.02 million USD of funding.

(Photo courtesy of UNESCAP)