Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand

At the 3rd United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC-III)
14-20 May 2001, Brussels

Mr. Chairman,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Government and people of Thailand, I wish to take this opportunity to express our deepest appreciation to the European Union for hosting this Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries. My gratitude also goes to the Secretary- General of UNCTAD, the UNCTAD Secretariat, and the Government of Belgium for organizing this highly significant conference. I am confident that we shall be able to achieve the action-oriented goals and objectives of the LDC-III.

I am certain that the tenth session of UNCTAD held in Bangkok last year is still very much in everyone’s mind. The theme of that meeting was to make the benefits of globalization available to all, to reduce its downside risks, and to address the issue of marginalisation faced by the vulnerable and weak countries. The message that came out of UNCTAD X in Bangkok last year was to humanize globalization. Today, we all gather here with a strong determination to find the solutions and appropriate measures to help the weakest segment of the international community. In order to attain sustainable growth in the LDCs, I believe the sharing of responsibilities between the LDCs and their development partners is needed. Obviously, the LDCs need to carry out structural reform of their domestic economies. At the same time, supportive measures from the international community are vital. So, action is needed at the global and national level. Thailand, as President of UNCTAD X, wishes to call upon all member countries to join hands in fostering long-lasting economic and social development in the LDCs and their integration into the world economy.

Mr. Chairman,

Although Thailand is a developing country, slowly emerging from one of the worst financial crises in recent memory, we would earnestly like to contribute to the process of assisting the LDCs. We are aware that many LDCs are facing cultivation problems due to chronic drought and the poor quality of soil. We believe that sharing experiences is a good way of helping. Therefore, we have produced a VCD called “Glory to the land”, which will be distributed here and at an exhibition held during this Conference. “Glory to the land” describes our successful experience of growing a tropical grass named the Vetiver grass to solve soil erosion problems. Vetiver grass is truly a miracle grass. It can adapt very well to different environmental conditions. In Thailand, this grass can be found growing in a wide range of terrains, from highlands to lowlands. With a deep dense root system spreading vertically, what Vetiver can provide is like an underground curtain or wall enabling the inner soil to retain water and moisture. The Vetiver rows can reduce the excessive impact of the wind and the sun. Growing this plant, therefore, helps conserve the topsoil and prevent soil degradation. In addition to such benefits, the grass can be used to make animal feeds, handicraft products, planting materials as well as roofing materials.

Mr. Chairman,

In addition to the VCD, Thailand, through the Department of Technical and Economic Cooperation (DTEC), has set up the “Thai International Cooperation Programme (TICP)” to provide technical cooperation to other developing countries as well as the LDCs, based on the principle of partnership for development. Many efforts have been made by Thailand to help the LDCs achieve their development goals. The first priority has been given to Thailand’s neighboring LDCs, followed by other countries in Asia, the Pacific and Africa. In providing technical cooperation, Thailand takes the LDCs’ real needs into consideration, namely, poverty alleviation, primary health care promotion, food security, education development, productive capacity building and income generation. Thailand’s TICP focuses on 3 areas, namely, agriculture, education and health. The components of technical cooperation are fellowships, studies, training, study visits, expert secondment and provision of equipment. These can be put into practice in various modalities:

1. Bilateral programme. The aim of which is to promote development efforts of the LDCs with a major focus on Thailand’s neighboring LDCs, namely, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

2. Annual International Training Courses Programme (AITC)

This programme is arranged for participants from various developing countries worldwide. Priority will be given to Thailand’s neighboring LDCs and other Asian countries. In 2002, LDCs have been invited to attend 10 training courses in Thailand.

3. echnical Cooperation among Developing Countries Programme (TCDC). This programme aims to promote the notion of South-South cooperation under UNDP initiatives between Thailand and our LDC partners.

4. Thailand International Postgraduate Programme (TIPP). This programme was established in 2000 to provide scholarships to outstanding candidates from Thailand’s 4 neighboring LDCs. To study at the Master’s degree level at the distinguished universities in Thailand.

5. Trilateral Programme. This programme requires both Thailand and other donors or international organizations to share technical knowledge and financial resources in implementing technical cooperation programme. In 2001 and 2002, Thailand and our partners have been planning to conduct 30 training courses for about 300 LDC participants in Asia.

6. Third Country Training Programme (TCTP). Thailand has always been the choice of many donor countries and international organizations (WHO, ESCAP and UNDP) in providing training courses and facilities that meet the needs and requirements of their awardees from the LDCs. The TCTP, being chiefly funded by international organizations, offers an opportunity to participants from the LDCs to attend many different courses in Thailand.

In the future, apart from continuing such provision of technical and economic cooperation in the major areas that are needed most by the LDCS, namely education, health and agriculture, Thailand, based on our providing capacity and the LDCs’ real needs, will also extend the assistance to other sectors as elaborated in the Programme of Action of LDC-III.

Mr. Chairman,

I hope the contribution from Thailand, although modest, will be meaningful and beneficial to the LDCs and their efforts to escape the vicious cycle of poverty and become active and valuable members of the world economic system. I also hope that the LDC-III Programme of Action will be able to accurately reflect the particular needs and circumstances of the LDCs, to banish forever the scourge of extreme poverty and inequality, to better address the problem of marginalisation faced by the LDCs, and to contribute towards their sustainable socio- economic development. The task ahead is a daunting one. Yet, never before have we had so many practical and concrete options and strategies to choose from, so let’s commit ourselves to meet the challenges and make this conference a success.

Thank you very much.