BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prof. Dr. Narumon Pinyosinwat, held a high-level meeting with Mr. Donald Brown, Associate Vice-President for Programme Management at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), to enhance cooperation and reaffirm Thailand’s commitment as host of IFAD’s new Asia-Pacific regional office.
The meeting took place at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in Bangkok, following the official signing of the Host Country Agreement (HCA), which established the IFAD regional office at the United Nations Building in Bangkok earlier this year.
Minister Narumon stated that this was the first official visit by a senior IFAD representative since the office became operational in early 2025. Mr. Brown expressed appreciation for Thailand’s support and updated the Minister on the ongoing relocation of IFAD staff to Thailand, noting that 6–7 Thai nationals are already employed at the new office, with plans to recruit more.
Minister Narumon welcomed IFAD’s decision to base its regional operations in Thailand and confirmed the ministry’s readiness to provide full support, including the secondment of Thai officials to IFAD to enhance their experience and deepen international cooperation.
One key focus of the discussion was IFAD’s development of a new two-year Country Strategic Note (CSN), which will guide bilateral cooperation. Central to this plan is a cross-border animal disease control project in the Mekong Subregion, under the One Health approach. The initiative, supported by regional funding, will be implemented in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.
Minister Narumon emphasized that One Health—a holistic approach integrating human, animal, and environmental health—has long been a national priority and falls under the mission of the Department of Livestock Development. She pledged Thailand’s strong support for the project and encouraged expanded cooperation with the private sector through IFAD to help uplift Thai small-scale farmers and promote sustainable agricultural growth. (TNA)
