Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai stated that Thailand stands ready to continue to offer its experience and best practices to interested countries as a contribution to their common effort to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

The Foreign Minister made the statement at the Handover Ceremony of the Chairmanship of the Group of 77 (G77) on 12 January 2016 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

 

He said that Thailand had chosen the theme "From Vision to Action: Inclusive Partnership for Sustainable Development” as the Group’s underpinning principle. It will serve as the driving force in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in the mobilization of all necessary resources for the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

 

The Foreign Minister explained that Thailand has been implementing a growth and development model, inspired by the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Although called a "philosophy,” the King’s notion of Sufficiency Economy is more a practice – a model for sustainable development that focuses on transforming the economics of exploitation into the economics of moderation and resilience. It also seeks to harmonize the economic, social, and environmental aspects of development. In this way, development will not be at the cost of future generations.

 

The idea of Sufficiency Economy can be applied to all sectors and at all levels, starting with the individual. It can also be used as a means of achieving the SDGs. For example, because it encourages people to live a sufficient life in accordance with personal capacities and capabilities, as well as fostering good business practices that focus on good governance, sustainable commercial activity, and responsibility to society, it fits in with SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production.

 

When considered in the context of the agricultural sector, Sufficiency Economy encourages a holistic farm management system that aims to minimize farmers’ vulnerability and promote sustainability, food security, water preservation, and biodiversity. This aligns with SDG 1: Poverty, and SDG 2: Zero hunger.

 

At the macroeconomic level, practicing Sufficiency Economy in these times of global economic volatility will also help various countries to cope, boosting their resilience to shocks, internal and external.

 

Thailand has been sharing its experience and best practices in the application of Sufficiency Economy as a growth and development model with interested developing countries through various cooperation frameworks, including numerous bilateral development projects undertaken by the Thailand International Cooperation Agency.

 

Thailand plans to hold a G77 experts’ meeting, as well as a high-level thematic meeting, to share its experiences with the wider membership of the Group in this area, as well as pooling its "collective wisdom” on approaches to sustainable development.

 

It also plans to host the High-level Panel of Eminent Personalities of the South in March 2016 to explore how to further strengthen South-South Cooperation. Also in March, Thailand will host the 48th Annual Meeting of the Chairpersons of the G77 Chapters in Bangkok.