Thailand
With the second-largest economy in ASEAN, Thailand is one of the most dynamic countries in Southeast Asia. But over the past decade, despite reaching upper middle-income status, Thailand has faced slowing economic growth, declining foreign investment, and political instability. Thailand has been effective in addressing Covid-19, but the economic impact has been significant as Thailand is predicted to have the largest economic contraction in Southeast Asia. Now is a critical time for reforms in education, economic competitiveness, inequality, and the environment, and the Foundation is supporting efforts by the Royal Thai Government to move forward on several major reform initiatives, government programs, and new investments. Thailand also plays a crucial role in regional cooperation and geopolitics, particularly within ASEAN and the lower Mekong subregion. The Foundation supports several Thai-led efforts in the region on sustainable development, Mekong cooperation, and is helping to strengthen U.S.-Thai relations.
Thomas Parks,
Country Representative
Contact
The Asia Foundation – Thailand
Chalanttip Building., 6D Floor
38 Convent Road, Silom
Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Tel: + 66 (2) 233-1644
Email: thailand.general@asiafoundation.org
U.S.-Thai Bilateral
With support from Google, Facebook, Coca-Cola, and the Chevron Corporation, the Foundation organized a track 1.5 dialogue between Thai and U.S. leaders in Washington, DC. Led by former Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State and Ambassador Stapleton Roy, each delegation included more than a dozen prominent leaders from the political, business, diplomatic, and security sectors. Following the meeting, we published an analysis and key outcomes from the dialogue.
While the official U.S.-Thai relationship has improved over the past year, we believe dialogues like this will be crucial to deepening cooperation and mutual understanding in the years ahead.
NEWS FROM THAILAND
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The Best InAsia Podcasts and Posts of 2020
January 7, 2021
Blog
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How to Sell an Avocado on Facebook
October 28, 2020
Blog
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GovAsia Issue 1: Civil Society in Southeast Asia During the Covid-19 Pandemic
September 24, 2020
Publication
TechCamp promotes peace and dialogue
Like the rest of the world, Southeast Asia has seen the dark side of social media, and in May 2017 our Thailand office, with funds from the U.S. State Department, organized TechCamp Thailand: Promoting Peace and Dialogue with Technology. We convened technology experts and 60 young social activists from Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia to explore technology-enabled strategies to promote tolerance and reduce online disinformation and hate speech. Small follow-on grants allow participants to take their ideas from concept to implementation. The program is already generating spin-offs in Thailand’s conflict-affected southern provinces, including a Mini-TechCamp in Pattani.
HIGHLIGHTS ACROSS ASIA
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Peripheral Vision: Views from the Borderlands – Fall 2020
January 12, 2021
Publication -
The Best InAsia Podcasts and Posts of 2020
January 7, 2021
Blog
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The Asia Foundation Supports APEC Policy Brief on Women, Covid-19, and the Future of Work
January 4, 2021
News -
North Korean Refugee Entrepreneurs in South Korea: Unveiling Korea’s Hidden Potential
December 30, 2020
Publication
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Asia Foundation Tackles Governance Challenges in GovLab’s 100 Questions Initiative
December 16, 2020
Media Coverage -
Myanmar Business Environment Index: Covid-19 Impact on Businesses
December 15, 2020
Publication
Impact Report 2020
Leading through change