BANGKOK, November 2, 2018 – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) showcased their development contributions to the strong and enduring 200-year U.S.-Thailand relationship at the 5th TICA Connect event held today at CentralWorld Shopping Complex.

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, Peter Haymond, and Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Chaisiri Anaman, provided opening remarks, followed by several talks targeting youth that highlighted some of the development challenges facing Thailand.  

At the event, Mr. Haymond announced a new collaboration between USAID and TICA to expand the Kaem Ling (monkey cheek) concept of water resource management. USAID and TICA are partnering with Coca-Cola and civil society in Thailand to implement the community water resource management initiative in the Lower Mekong region, beginning with Laos. The project seeks to alleviate the impacts of floods and droughts in the region, and builds off the successes achieved in Thailand.  

"Over the past seven decades, our development cooperation partnership with Thailand has evolved and covered a broad range of programs. Partnership areas include: health, environment, agriculture and food security, trade and policy reform," said Mr. Haymond. "We must continue to employ the knowledge and experience we have built together to face the challenges before us today."

Mr. Haymond also challenged Thai youth to get involved in addressing the development challenges facing their country and region. He announced a USAID development innovation contest to encourage innovative ideas that promote access to cleaner energy throughout the region. The contest will award at least one large cash prize next year, coinciding with Thailand’s chairmanship of ASEAN.   

From November 2 to 4, the exhibit highlighting the two countries’ development partnership over nearly seven decades will be on display at CentralWorld Shopping Complex (Eden 2 entrance). The exhibit includes interactive displays of cooperation in promoting food security, encouraging technological innovation, and combatting pandemic health threats.

TICA Connect also featured insights from celebrity guest speakers including Dr. Saengduen Moonsom, Coordinator of the Thailand One Health University Network and Assistant Professor, Department of Protozoology, Mahidol University; Krit Kunplin, Representative of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center; and Alex Rendell, a Thai-English actor, singer and conservationist.  

The 5th TICA Connect event, a series established in 2016 to highlight the partnership between TICA and its development partners, is centered around the theme Development Cooperation Partnership: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.

Find photos of the event here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usaidasia/albums/72157702910716964