Thailand’s current development co-operation priorities are based on the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan 2023-2027, which aims to transform Thailand in five key areas: 1) narrowing income disparities and poverty reduction through innovation; 2) creating a knowledge-based economy and value-added development; 3) human resource development to meet demand in a digital economy; 4) environmental conservation to deal with climate change; and 5) advanced preparations to deal with changing global economic and social environments and the 20-year Foreign Affairs Masterplan, with its 5 key strategic priorities: 1) security; 2) sustainability; 3) standard; 4) status; and 5) synergy.
Thailand delivers its development co-operation mainly through TICA, which transitioned from being the Department of Technical and Economic Cooperation, which used to process incoming aid. TICA was established in 2004 and focuses on ensuring human security in four areas: 1) health security; 2) job security; 3) food security; and 4) energy and environmental security. Thailand also promotes more balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth by embracing the Bio-Circular-Green Economy Model to complement the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy as Thailand’s development approach.
Thailand engages in various forms of development co-operation, such as development projects, human development and education (training courses, postgraduate scholarships and study visits), as well as programmes to dispatch Thai experts and volunteers. Priority themes include public health, agriculture and food security, climate change, and other topics related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, NEDA, under the Ministry of Finance, provides concessional loans, mostly to transport and storage projects. Just over half of Thailand’s development assistance is channelled through multilateral co-operation as core contributions. The remainder is provided through bilateral channels and triangular co-operation arrangements.
