Bangkok--25 Nov--Brand Now Asia
JICA marks 60th anniversary of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and continues to provide assistance to Thailand and countries in Mekong sub-region ahead of AEC 2015November
This year the government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) mark six decades as a bilateral donor through their Official Development Assistance (ODA) with a series of events worldwide.
As part of the anniversary celebrations in Thailand, JICA has organized a seminar today titled “Thailand-Japan Cooperation, Past and Future” which underlines Thailand as a strong and reliable partner in the development of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).
Japan began the Official Development Assistance in 1954 when it pledged as part of the Colombo Plan for Cooperative Economic and Social Development in Asia and the Pacific to contribute to economic and social development and improve welfare in developing countries, through the provision of funding and technology. Initially positioned as part of the country’s war reparations, ODA soon became a foreign policy instrument in the 1960s, especially in Asia.
Today as a regional and global leader in development cooperation, Japan has offered ODA in various forms to about 150 countries and regions over the world in collaboration with various stakeholders. Such contributions has achieved other considerable achievements such as bolstering friendships between these countries and Japan, strengthening exchange between people throughout the world and the Japanese people, and improving Japan's position in the international community.
In Thailand, ODA began in 1954 with a training program for 21 Thais in Japan. This was followed by loans and grants with JICA opening an office here in 1974 to promote the country’s economic and social development by implementing cooperation projects that would fit into local contexts and the needs of the country at specific times.
Given their historically long and good relationship, as well as Thailand’s success in economic and social development, the two countries have become “development partners”, working together to provide assistance to other developing countries, particularly those in the Mekong-sub-region, in capacity development and preparation for the integration into the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.
At present, JICA Thailand implements cooperation projects with the Government of Thailand through three principal schemes: Technical Cooperation, ODA Loans, and Grant Aid, both at the bilateral level (Thailand –Japan) and at regional level (Southeast Asia-Japan).
Until 2013, Thailand has received the following assistance:
Technical cooperation on 156 projects and 216 development studies worth THB 67.4 billion
ODA loans for 242 projects totaling THB 656 billion
Grant Aid of THB 52 billion
645 Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers
300 Senior Volunteers (the world’s largest)
30,437 participants in JICA training programs and
9,801 experts and 14,946 study team members
One of the largest ODA loans was to finance the Mass Transit System Project in Bangkok (Purple Line) (I & II) that would connect Bang Sue in Bangkok and Bang Yai in the neighboring Nonthaburi Province. The funds were for both consulting services and civil works covering elevated structures, stations, depot and park & ride buildings as well as track works.
In more recent years, the JICA has changed the focus and content of its cooperation in Thailand on account of three factors. Given its geographic and economic prominence in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), the connectivity between the Kingdom’s economy and its neighbors is an important aspect in Japan’s role in regional development.
Japan already has a strong commercial presence in Thailand, with over 50,000 Japanese residents supporting the local subsidiaries of over 7,000 Japanese companies poised to take important roles in developing markets of the region. With Thailand as a strong and reliable partner in the development of the GMS, JICA can collaborate with Thai agencies and people contribute to the sustainable development in this region.
Over the years, JICA’s close relationship with the Thai people and agencies and the accumulation of vast knowledge of Thailand are important assets in the further development of the Kingdom and its neighbours. With organizations such as the King Mongkut's Institute of Technology, Lad Krabang (KMITL) or the National Institute of Metrology (NIMT), benefiting from ODA, Thailand has already started technical and capital cooperation with other developing countries through the Thai International Cooperation Agency (TICA) and the Neighboring Countries Economic Development Agency (NEDA).
The final and most important factor for the change in JICA’s focus is that Thailand faces different issues as it rapidly overtakes its neighbours in its social qualitative transition to a matured society and its elevation to an Upper Middle Income Country. A faster ageing population and a decline in birth rates, coupled with a social welfare system not capable of dealing with these issues are some of the problems Thailand faces with its new status.
With Japan’s extensive experience in these areas, JICA is in a position to assist in establishing an appropriate social welfare system in Thailand, as well as support in tackling other contemporary issues, such as human trafficking, food safety, and the challenge of creating a sophisticated, environmentally friendly, and sustainable society. Any lessons and knowledge gained through this cooperation would be useful to other developing countries that will certainly face similar issues in the future.
“Although the nature of JICA’s cooperation with Thailand is changing, its commitment remains constant,” says Shuichi Ikeda, Chief Representative, JICA Thailand Office, adding, “we look forward to a continuing collaboration with Thailand, not as a recipient country for assistance but as a true partner in the sustainable development of the region beyond Thailand.”
About The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is in charge of administering all ODA schemes in an integrated manner except for contributions to international organizations. At present, JICA is the world’s largest bilateral aid agency, working in over 150 countries and regions, and has some 100 overseas offices.
JICA Thailand was established its office in 1974 to promote the country’s economic and social development by implementing cooperation projects that fit into local contexts and needs of the country at specific times. With the historically long and good relationship between both countries, as well as Thailand’s success in economic and social development, Thailand and Japan have become “development partners”, working together to provide assistance to other developing countries, particularly those in the Mekong-sub-region, in capacity development and preparation for the integration into the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.
At present, JICA Thailand Office implements cooperation projects with the Government of Thailand through 3 principal schemes, namely Technical Cooperation, ODA Loans and Grant Aid, both at the bilateral level (Thailand –Japan) and at regional level (Southeast Asia-Japan).
About Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA)
In order to contribute to economic and social development and improve welfare in developing countries, Japan has been carrying out cooperation through providing funding and technology. This type of cooperation is called Official Development Assistance, or ODA and is implemented various forms in about 160 countries and regions over the world in collaboration with various stakeholders. Japan's assistance has contributed to the development of many developing countries, particularly Asian countries. Moreover, such contribution to development has also achieved other considerable accomplishments. These include bolstering friendships between these countries and Japan, strengthening exchange between people throughout the world and the Japanese people, and improving Japan's position in the international community.