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UN Thailand flagship initiative to promote organic culture through ARISE Plus

28 April 2023
ITC News

With over 160,000 ha of organic farmland and being ranked fourth among all Asian countries, Thailand plays a pivotal and emerging role in the region.

As part of efforts to promote organic culture in the country, the Arise Plus Thailand project has now been made part of the UN Thailand flagship initiative under the South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) initiatives.

The announcement was made at the launch of the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Bangkok, which was held on the side-lines of UNESCAP’s Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development 2023 (APFSD).

As a result, the European Union (EU) funded ARISE Plus project that is implemented by the International Trade Centre, joins forces with the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) to foster trilateral cooperation between the EU, Thailand, and other ASEAN countries.

In his opening remarks H.E. Mr David Daly, Ambassador of the European Union to Thailand highlighted  the triangular partnership between the European Union, the United Nations and the Royal Thai Government, in contributing to the global agenda  “The European Union is very pleased to support cooperation between Thailand and other countries in the region with the aim to foster sustainable development, while strengthening ASEAN regional integration, as well as the South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) initiatives.”

This capacity building initiative accelerates the development of sustainable agricultural practices and enhances export opportunities for farmer communities and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the ASEAN region, by promoting best practices and building awareness on organic agriculture and standards, including ASEAN and EU standards. It will also contribute to strengthen regional integration through trade and knowledge exchange.

Gita Sabharwal, the UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand emphasized “The collaborations between the UN, TICA, line ministries and other development partners allow each of us to leverage our respective strengths towards truly transformative outcomes. Southern-led development initiatives speak to the power of partnerships grounded in mutual benefits.”

The initiative builds upon TICA’s Sufficiency Economic Philosophy (SEP) Learning Centres and ITC’s South-South trade development activities.

It is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Bio-Circular Green (BCG) Economic model promoted by Thailand, the regional integration support from the EU through ARISE Plus, with the EU Green Deal agenda to tackle climate change and ensures to leave no one behind as pathways to champion a more inclusive and sustainable future.