Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand receives UNDP Administrator

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand receives UNDP Administrator

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand receives UNDP Administrator

On 23 April 2026, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Mr. Alexander De Croo, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Mr. De Croo presented the photo of Prince Wan Waithayakon Krommun Narathip at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in 1947 and expressed UNDP's appreciation for Thailand's support to the United Nations ever since its founding.

with H.E. Mr. Vijavat Isarabhakdi, Representative of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, held discussions with the Admnistrator of the UNDP. Both sides reaffirmed the strong and longstanding partnership between Thailand and UNDP, with a shared commitment to advancing sustainable development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They underscored the importance of people-centred development, in line with Thailand's Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP).

H.E. Mr. Vijavat welcomed the progress in the preparation of the new UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD) for Thailand (2027 - 2031) and emphasized the importance of aligning it with Thailand's national priorities. Mr. De Croo expressed UNDP's support for Thailand's OECD accession process, as well as Thailand's important role within the region. Discussions also covered other key areas of collaboration, including the managing the impacts of geo-political situations, addressing climate change, and combatting online scams.

Both sides expressed readiness to further strengthen cooperation at the regional and global levels, including through Thailand's membership in the UNDP Executive Board for the term 2028-2031 and Thailand's candidature for membership of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the term 2029-2031. They also explored opportunities for future collaboration, including the organization of an international event to promote the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy in 2027, marking the 100th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, as well as UNDP's potential engagement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the IMF - World Bank Annual Meetings to be hosted in Thailand in October 2026.