Project History Book Launch: Passing the Trust Built Over 35 Years of Japan-Thailand Environmental Cooperation Onto the Next Generation

Fukuda Munehiro, one of the book’s authors, who has worked for many years on environmental issues in Thailand, began the seminar by outlining the book. Fukuda cited JICA’s continuous efforts in the environmental field in Thailand, including the establishment of the Environmental Research & Training Center (ERTC), the transfer of basic technology for environmental analysis and the development of the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) system. Fukuda noted that in a situation without precedent, Japanese experts worked strenuously with their Thai counterparts to foster trust and these cooperation initiatives in Thailand became a precursor to Japan’s environmental cooperation. He stated his belief that the case study in the book is universal in nature, taking into account the changes in environmental cooperation that have been made over the years as Thailand's industrial structure has become more sophisticated.

A panel discussion was then held, themed around the idea of sharing and passing on trust from the perspective of various stakeholders. The discussion was moderated by Adachi Ichiro, who was a JICA Ogata Research Institute research fellow at the time. The panelists, who were posted to Thailand in an expert capacity, commented about their experiences there.

Seki Soichiro, one of the book’s authors and president of the Japan Industrial Waste Information Center, said that when he was posted to Thailand in 1985, Japan’s assistance to Thailand in the field of environment had just begun. There was only Thai-language data available, so he had to start by translating the data. He also shared how he struggled to get people understand the importance of environmental issues when basic human needs were still the priority at the time. He said that more than 100 Japanese experts have been appointed to the ERTC from the public and private sectors, with many of them still involved in its work even today as their lifework. He said their involvement has been the driving force to continuously deepen and enrich the environmental cooperation over the last 35 years.

The panel discussion was followed by a round-table titled “Building Trust in Japan-Thailand Environmental Cooperation: Young Experts’ Perspective,” moderated by Otsuka Takahiro, deputy director at the JICA Global Environment Department.

First, the first director of ERTC, Monthip Sriratana Tabucanon, also known as “the mother of Japan-Thailand environmental cooperation,” took the stage. As environmental problems in Thailand were becoming more serious, she came to Japan as a JICA trainee. Her first-hand experience with Japan’s advanced initiatives led to the start of environmental cooperation between Japan and Thailand. She noted that good relationships built by Japanese experts and Thai counterparts have made both governments realize the benefits of Japan’s cooperation and the value of working together. Even after the project had ended, these activities were passed down over the course of many years. She stated her desire to convey the importance of trust to the younger generation. Looking back, Decha Pimpisut, who was involved in the PRTR project, said that the staff members in Thailand, who were working in the Department of Industrial Work at the Ministry of Industry and the Pollution Control Department at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, were still young and needed some experience to learn techniques for proper management, not one-sided management based on a command-and-control approach. However, because Fukuda was able to patiently forge good relationships with them, both at work and after work, they together were able to sort out some difficulties they had. He pointed out that excellent teamwork was the key to the success of the project.

From the Japan side, Takahashi Makoto of EX Research Institute Ltd., who joined a project to set environmental and emission standards for volatile organic compounds in Thailand starting in 2005, shared his experiences. He said that many of his Thai counterparts had earned doctorate degrees and had an abundance of practical experience and knowledge, so he was able to learn a great deal from them, not just in terms of technology, but with regard to their working style and research approach as well. Hishida Nozomi of Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., looked back on her experiences from her four-year posting in Thailand, pointing out that the relationship between the two countries has changed. She commented that while Japan was a pioneer in addressing environmental problems in the past, and had a teacher-student relationship with Thailand, the two countries are now facing common challenges, and are becoming equal partners that solve them together.