BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa led a delegation to the UN’s High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2025 (HLPF2025) in New York, presenting Thailand’s progress and its number one ranking in ASEAN for achieving sustainability goals.
The annual forum is a key platform for tracking and accelerating the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
During his visit, the minister presented Thailand’s third Voluntary National Review, or VNR. This report reflects a decade of development based on data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and community-led direction. The report highlighted Thailand’s pride in ranking first in ASEAN and third in the Asia-Pacific on the SDG index, a result of collaboration across all sectors of Thai society.
Minister Maris explained that this year’s VNR also emphasizes grassroots public participation. He co-launched a side event titled “Local to Global – Empowering Communities through Upcycled Innovation for Sustainable Growth.” This exhibition showcased the creativity of local Thai entrepreneurs in promoting a circular economy by transforming waste into valuable products, reflecting Thailand’s vision for an inclusive and sustainable economy.
The minister stressed the urgency of accelerating progress, with only five years remaining until the 2030 deadline to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the UN’s adoption of the 2030 Agenda. Thailand’s report focused on three key areas. These include a statistical analysis of SDG progress over the past decade, a presentation of best practices and notable projects, and an analysis of challenges and strategies for the final five years, incorporating assessments from government and other sectors. (NNT)
