Topics & Events

Pathumthani, Thailand – The recent closing ceremony of a Third Country Training Program (TCTP) on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Thailand has marked the successful completion of the three-year South-South Cooperation Program co-organized by the Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency (TICA) and the Institute of Environmental Training and Technology Transfer (IET) under the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion (DEQP), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The two-week intensive training courses on EIA had been organized exclusively for government representatives from the Mekong Sub-Region in three consecutive years since 2009. The major themes varied in each year, addressing the common needs of the Mekong Sub-Region countries, which were EIA in the hydropower sector (2009), EIA in the transportation sector (2010), and EIA and public participation in the power sector (2011) respectively. A total of 59 participants from Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam had successfully completed the courses and been awarded with the completion certificate under the cooperation program.

Highlights of the TCTP on EIA are not only having Thailand to gather local experts and share its abundant experience to the neighboring countries, but also providing an opportunity for all the participants to create and maintain network of EIA experts at the regional level to accommodate the ASEAN integration in 2015. Those participated the course are expected to work in their respected field and further raise the capacity of the region to mitigate the negative impact to its rich biodiversity and natural resources through rapid economic growth.

In addition to the TCTP on EIA, at present there are nine on-going TCTPs, jointly implemented by JICA, TICA and relevant Thai government agencies, under the Japan Thailand Partnership Program.

Lecture on JICA Guidelines on Environmental and Social Considerations by Mr. Takaaki Kawano, Director of Environmental and Social Considerations Review Division, JICA Headquarters

Group Discussion to Facilitate Learning Process and Exchange of Opinion

Meeting with a Local Community surrounding Thailand’s Largest Power Plant in Ratchaburi Province

Field Trip to Lamtakong Hydro Power Plant and Pumped Storage Project in Nakorn Ratchasima Province

Closing Ceremony at IET in September 2, 2011