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. With growing concerns about trade, education, inequality, and the environment, the Royal Thai Government is moving forward on several major reform initiatives, government programs, and new investments. Thailand is also in the midst of a major political transition, with elections scheduled in early 2019. Meanwhile, the conflict in the southernmost provinces continues, with prospects for a peaceful settlement elusive.
Thomas Parks
,
Country Representative
Contact
The Asia Foundation – Thailand
Q House Convent Building
38 Convent Road, Silom
Bangkok, Thailand 10500
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.
Thomas ParksNEWS FROM THAILAND
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New Faces, New Chapter in Thai Politics
March 27, 2019
Blog
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Reuters Features Quote from Country Representative Thomas Parks
March 25, 2019
Media Coverage
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2019: The Year Ahead in Asia
January 2, 2019
Blog
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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The Asia Foundation Releases 2018 Survey of Afghan Returnees
Kabul
May 14, 2019
News -
The Global Good Funds Selects 2018 Development Fellow Vaibhav Lodha
May 10, 2019
Media Coverage
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Nepal Survey: Does a Seat at the Table Guarantee Gender Equality?
May 8, 2019
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Asia Foundation’s Carmeneza dos Santos Monteiro Featured on Australian National University’s Policy Forum Pod
May 6, 2019
Media Coverage
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The Myanmar Business Environment Index 2019
April 30, 2019
Publication -
Golden State Warriors CFO Jennifer Cabalquinto and Actress Lana Condor Honored by The Asia Foundation in San Francisco May 29
San Francisco
April 30, 2019
News
2019 Lotus Leadership Awards Dinner
Wednesday May 29, 2019, San Francisco
Honoring Jennifer Cabalquinto, CFO of the Golden State Warriors, and Lana Condor, Actor and Philanthropist
2019 Lotus Leadership Awards Gala
Wednesday, May 29, 2019, San Francisco