ASEAN Peatland Media Award “Peat for Life”

(01/04/2013)

The Global Environment Centre (GEC) and ASEAN Secretariat, is pleased to announce the launch of the ASEAN Peatland Media Award to stimulate and generate interest of individuals in reporting and highlighting peatland related stories in the media. 

The announcement was made today in conjunction with the 2013 World Forestry Day celebrations organized by the Forestry Department of Peninsula Malaysia in Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Pekan campus.

The ASEAN Peatland Media Award with the theme “Peat for Life” will honour individuals or journalists for their reporting on peatlands that covers sustainability, biodiversity, community livelihood and environmental issues in Southeast Asia region. The award is organised by the ASEAN Secretariat and Global Environment Centre (GEC) with the support from the IFAD/GEF-ASEAN Peatland Forests Project (APFP) and of EU-SEApeat Project to promote sustainable management of peatlands in Southeast Asia.

More than 24 million ha of peatlands are found in the Southeast Asian region. Peatlands are naturally forested and provide valuable goods and services including timber and non-timber forest products, fish, water supply, flood control, carbon storage and climate regulation. If peatlands are drained or degraded, they are susceptible to fire. Peatland fires are the main source of transboundary smoke haze in Southeast Asia which is ASEAN’s most serious regional environmental problem.

“Peatlands is one of the focal areas under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution to tackle the root cause of transboundary haze caused by peat fire.  The ASEAN Peatland Media Award aims to raise awareness on issues and challenges in peatland management in the region and bring success stories of government action and grassroots peatland conservation efforts in ASEAN countries to the public’s attention,” said Dr Raman Letchumanan, Director of the Environmental Division of the ASEAN Secretariat, who is also Project Director of the APFP project.

The contest is divided into 2 categories, Print and New Media and submission is open to all individuals and organisations for articles on peat related topics published between 1st January and 31st December 2013. Topics can cover peatland related subject, ranging from ecological to socioeconomic, which has general significance to the ASEAN community; including peatland fire and haze, scientific research/discovery, peatland and climate change, deforestation and land degradation,  biodiversity conservation, community livelihood on peatland, economics and sustainability of peatland development etc.

Print Media includes newspaper and magazine articles, reports and any other printed materials. For New Media, the category includes videos, blogs, and other materials which have been published online during the same period. Entries are judged based on the content, message and approach of the published article. Cash prizes totaling US$3600 and a stay in the award winning resort of Frangipani Langkawi worth US$1,000 are waiting for the winners of both categories for their outstanding reporting.

Submission will be accepted beginning 1st April 2013 until midnight on 31st December 2013 (+8 GMT). The contest guidelines, rules and regulations, and additional information can be found at http://www.aseanpeat.net

For media enquiries and information, please contact:
Ms. Noor Azura Ahmad, Mobile : +60 19 267 4896     
email : azura@gec.org.my

Ms. Adelaine Tan,  Mobile : +60 12 239 2983
e-mail: adelaine@gec.org.my 

ABOUT APFP and SEApeat
The ASEAN Peatland Forest Project (APFP), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); is led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) Secretariat and selected ASEAN Member States while the related SEApeat project, funded by the European Union involve all ten ASEAN countries between 2010-2014.  The projects aim to enhance capacity, support fire prevention and sustainable management of peatlands in the region. Further details of these two initiatives can be found at www.aseanpeat.net.
 
ABOUT GEC
Global Environment Centre is a Malaysian non-profit organization established in 1998 to work on environmental issues of global importance. GEC works regionally and internationally both directly and through many partners. It supports information exchange and capacity building as well as undertakes strategic projects, particularly in developing countries. GEC’s mission is to support the protection of the environment and sustainable use of the natural resources to meet local, regional and global needs, through strategic partnerships with communities and like-minded organisations. It is a founding partner of the ASEAN Peatland Management Initiative and has been appointed as the Regional Project Executing Agency (RPEA) for the APFP.

ASEAN and Civil Society Work Together for Disaster Resilience in the Region

(01/04/2013)

"We are not strangers to each other, as we are all a family. We have the same objectives of becoming disaster resilient and safer communities," says Mr. Suporn Ratananakin, speaking on behalf of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of Thailand, currently the Chair of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM). This statement was made during the partnership dialogue between ACDM and civil society representatives held last week in Bangkok, Thailand.

This dialogue between government and civil society was part of a process for reaching a common understanding and ways of working together in support of the implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER). The process started with consultations with civil society organisations in the countries, followed by a regional consultation attended by national and regional civil society representative. "It is crucial that we successfully take this process forward. Partnership between the ACDM and civil society upholds the very purpose of the ASEAN Charter, which is to 'promote a people-oriented ASEAN in which all sectors of society are encouraged to participate in, and benefit from, the process of ASEAN integration and community-building.' This means that we are all together in disaster risk reduction and disaster management," according to Mr. Ratananakin.

The dialogue was attended by representatives of the national disaster management offices and civil society organisations that work both in national and regional in scope, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The civil society participants to the dialogue represent a diversity of organisations working with vulnerable groups and communities in ASEAN, such as those working with women, children, older persons, persons with disability, and even organisations working for the protection of animals during emergencies.

During the dialogue, proposed areas of partnership between ASEAN and civil societies in achieving disaster resilience were discussed. These areas include disaster risk assessment and early warning that considers vulnerability information at community level. Civil society also proposed practical actions to assist ASEAN Member States in ensuring disaster preparedness, prevention, and mitigation in mainstreaming disaster risk reduction at various levels; enhancing safety in schools; and reaching out to citizens of ASEAN to instill a culture of resilience. Further, when the need for regional response arises, civil society can offer its resources to efficiently and effectively assist the affected Member State, and to provide its expertise in developing recovery tools. Other areas of cooperation are in training, knowledge sharing, resource mobilisation, and further strengthening collaborative and consultative mechanisms at the regional level.

“The proposals coming from civil society organisations are indeed useful and compliments the initiatives of ASEAN Member States," according to Lee Yam Ming Lee of the Singapore Civil Defence Force, who chairs several strategic components and building blocks under the AADMER Work Programme.

"Once members of the ACDM approve the proposals, the AHA Centre is ready to work with civil society organisations to implement activities in the identified key areas," according to Mr. Said Faisal, Executive Director of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre). The AHA Centre is the operational engine for the implementation of AADMER.

The CSOs also expressed desire to form an inclusive regional consultative body that will work hand-in-hand with the ACDM on the implementation of AADMER, where constructive engagement between CSOs and ACDM is the key principle. This regional consultative body will have to be linked with existing national platforms working on disaster risk reduction in the Member States, as well as other stakeholders.

“The formation of a regional consultative body of civil society organisations will complement existing national platforms on disaster risk reduction," says Dr. Aung Lin Aye of the Relief and Resettlement Department of the Myanmar Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.

"The ASEAN is a trailblazer in the area of regional joint emergency response and strengthening disaster risk reduction mechanisms globally. ASEAN's model of partnerships with civil society on implementation of the AADMER is another high point worth learning from by other regional bodies," says Mr. Cherian Matthews, speaking as Chair of the AADMER Partnership Group, a consortium of international non-government organisations that has been supporting ASEAN in the implementation of disk risk reduction.

The AADMER Partnership Group has been working closely with the ACDM, ASEAN Secretariat and the AHA Centre in implementing AADMER since 2009. The dialogue was organised by the AADMER Partnership Group in coordination with the ACDM and with the support of Directorate-General European Commission - Humanitarian Aid & Civil Protection.

The partnership dialogue was held right after the ACDM Workshop on AADMER Institutionalisation and Development of Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators held on 25-27 March 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand. The said workshop was organised by the ASEAN Secretariat with the support of ASEAN-Australia Cooperation for AADMER Work Programme.

Myanmar Prepares for Leadership of the ASEAN Economic Community

(01/04/2013)

Myanmar’s leadership as ASEAN chair in 2014 will be critical to the success of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015. This key message emerged from the U.S.-supported workshop last week, which brought together around 70 participants from the Government and the private sector to discuss the Chairmanship of the ASEAN Economic Ministers next year.  The discussion explored the benefits of the AEC and reviewed the progress of the implementation of the AEC by both ASEAN and Myanmar.

“The ASEAN Economic Community presents the best opportunity for the ASEAN Member States to compete intensively for markets outside the region while presenting a more favorable environment to encourage domestic and foreign investment at home,” said U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar Derek J. Mitchell at the opening of the event. “The AEC will enable ASEAN firms to gain economies of scale that would be impossible in a single country in the region.”

U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN David L. Carden added that, “I have every confidence Myanmar will be a leading contributor to ASEAN integration, including economic integration.  We are pleased to see the Government and private sector are focused on the road ahead and that other ASEAN Member States are showing strong support."

As the Government prepares to assume the ASEAN chair for the first time, ASEAN Member States will collectively be monitoring the necessary obligations to implement the Blueprint for the ASEAN Economic Community.

“This is the right time for us to have this very important discussion on how to involve Myanmar in the AEC and the global community”, said Dr. Khin San Yee, Deputy Minister, Ministry for National Planning and Economic Development. “Our discussions over the next two days give us a great opportunity to take stock, identify priorities and plan ahead for our role as chair to lead ASEAN in achieving its 2015 target.”

The workshop presented the AEC scorecard that captures not only the AEC implementation by ASEAN as a region to date, but also a more detailed scorecard on the performance of Myanmar. The scorecard highlighted areas where Myanmar will need to accelerate AEC preparation and areas where technical assistance from Dialogue Partners could be provided.

“There is much to be done if ASEAN is to achieve the 2015 AEC target,” said Ms. Anna Robeniol of the ASEAN Secretariat.  “Under the AEC we are moving towards the creation of a collective wealth that will benefit all of us.  But there is no free lunch.  There is a need for each and every Member State to be responsible and committed.”

In addition to the AEC scorecard, the workshop featured an exchange of views between the government and the private sector on the status of preparations for the AEC. Private sector participants were made up of representatives from the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, which represents over 18,000 businesses and associations.

U.S.-supported study suggest that the successful implementation of the AEC will result in an increase in ASEAN real incomes by 5.3%, as well as growth in exports of up to 43% in many manufacturing sectors.  Myanmar stands to be one of the greatest beneficiaries of the AEC, with an estimated 4.4% increase in national income and a 66% increase in exports.

The workshop was organised by the U.S. Government-funded ASEAN-U.S. Technical Assistance and Training Facility.

Guidelines on Developing Core Competencies in Competition Policy and Law for ASEAN

(01/04/2013)

The Guidelines on Developing Core Competencies in Competition Policy and Law for ASEAN (“RCC Guidelines”) were officially launched at the 11th Meeting of the ASEAN Experts Group on Competition (AEGC) on 25-26 March 2013 in Manila, Philippines. The RCC Guidelines, based on ASEAN Member States’ experience and internationally-recommended practices, are for use by staff of competition-related agencies in ASEAN Member States in developing and strengthening their required core competencies. The RCC Guidelines focus on three key competency areas: (i) Institutional Building; (ii) Enforcement; and (iii) Advocacy.

The RCC Guidelines were one of the initiatives in support of AEC building under the AEGC medium-term work plan 2011-2012. The development of the RCC Guidelines is led by the AEGC’s Working Group on Developing RCC (WG-RCC) with the support of the ASEAN Secretariat and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Significant Increase in Thai-Russian Bilateral Trade

(31/03/2013)

Trade between Thailand and Russia rose to five billion US dollars in 2012, tripling the amount recorded three years ago. Both countries agreed to increase bilateral trade to 10 billion dollars in 2016. The agreement was reached at the 5th Session of the Thailand-Russia Joint Commission on Bilateral Relations, held in Moscow on 29 March 2013. Representing Thailand at the session was Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who called on both countries to look ahead with a vision to include new areas of cooperation in order to bring the long-lasting Thailand-Russia relations to a new era of strategic partnership. According to a report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand invited Russia to participate in infrastructure projects planned to enhance regional connectivity and support ASEAN integration into an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. AEC will be a large market for Russian products in the future. Thailand can serve as a production base and a gateway to Southeast Asia for Russia, while Russia can serve as a bridge linking Thailand to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. Both sides viewed food security as an important issue and agreed to step up cooperation in the field of agriculture, increase bilateral trade in agricultural products, and promote investment in the related industries. They also agreed to develop technical cooperation in science and technology, communications, and culture, which will not only support the exchange of knowledge but also enhance people-to-people contact. Thailand and Russia agreed to explore the possibility of setting up a working group on tourism to promote tourism and to protect the safety of Thai and Russian tourists, taking into account that in 2012 over 1.3 million Russian tourists came to Thailand, while some 50,000 Thai tourists went to Russia. Thailand urged Russia to import more Thai agricultural products, such as rice, rubber, canned fruits, frozen seafood, and frozen and processed chicken. Russia is now Thailand’s largest trading partner in Eastern Europe. Mr. Surapong called for more frequent and regular exchanges between Thai and Russian academic institutions. He asked Russia to consider giving Thai students more flexibility to choose universities in Russia, as well as their fields of study. He also wished to see more Thai students going to study at leading universities in Russia. On cooperation in science and technology, he urged relevant agencies to exchange their experts in research and conduct joint scientific projects, especially in the fields of nanotechnology and medical science. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is expected to pay an official visit to Russia in the middle of 2013. She has invited Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, to pay an official visit to Thailand before or after the APEC Summit in Bali, Indonesia, at the end of 2013.

Vice Minister of Labour on High Flyer Talk Show

(27/03/2013)

Mr. Anusorn Kraiwatnussorn, Vice Minister of Labour, was a guest at the High Fly Talk Show at the Golden Tulip Hotel.  As a role model for success, he was interviewed by the show host, Khun Kawinta Danutra, about secret keys to work and business successes. The 30-minutes programe was pre-recorded and would probably be broadcast on Modern Nine TV on April 18, 2013 12 am – 12.30 am.

502 Thai workers in Brunei take part in health checks

(26/03/2013)

Mr. Poonsak Sethanandha, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Labour, says a total of 502 Thai workers in Brunei received health checks provided by Ministry of Labour. He says the number is more than expected and that the service receives well responses from workers. Meanwhile, Rajavithi Hospital doctors say the service should be launched in all countries that Thai workers go to work. Most Thai workers are found to have high pressures and suffer body ache, likely to have been caused by hard work.

Mr. Poonsak announced the results of the health check service for Thai workers in Brunei, saying that his ministry organized a health promotion project for Thai workers overseas under which a medical team from Rajavithi Hospital and Songkhlar Rajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital travel overseas to provide health check and give medical advices for those workers. During March 19-24, his ministry launched the project in Brunei.

Mr. Poonsak said a total of 502 Thai workers in Brunei received the health checks and that most of them had high pressure and suffered body ache, likely to have been caused by hard work. The medical team told them to have their health checked more regularly because high pressure could lead to other diseases.

He said workers who received the service were satisfied. They had an opportunity to access medical service, which they rarely got and proposed the ministry to organize such the service more often, from once to twice a year.

Meanwhile, Dr. Winai Srisaart, doctor from Rajavithi Hospital, said Thai workers should pay extra attention to their health, especially those with congenital disease such as high pressure and diabetes and continue to take their medication.

He said he found that works in building and industrial sectors are more likely to have high pressure than those in agricultural sector. This is not unusual because the works there involve hard physical.

He said in overall he is satisfied with because many workers had access to medical service, which they rarely got due to language problems. He also wants Ministry of Labour to publish handbook for basic medical vocabulary in both English and local language and distribute to workers in order to help them communicate with local doctors. The service should also be expanded to other countires that Thai workers go to work.

Explanation to the House of Representatives on the Government’s Planned Two-Trillion-Baht Loan

(29/03/2013)

The Government has opted to issue a bill on its planned two-trillion-baht loan for infrastructure mega-projects, instead of seeking funds to finance them through the annual national budget process, because it wants the projects to continue without disruption caused by political changes. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra gave an explanation on the bill to the House of Representatives, which began to debate it in the first reading on 28 March 2013. She said that many mega-projects in the past had been suspended or scrapped because of political turmoil. The annual national budget process is not favorable to investment in large projects that require continuous and long-term implementation. The Prime Minister pointed out that Thailand needs to create confidence among investors about the continuation of the projects and its future development plan. She explained that the planned investment in infrastructure development was meant to build a better future for the next generation. So the projects should not be changed following political uncertainties. The mega-projects would also attract more investment and strengthen the country’s economy on a sustainable basis. The Prime Minister said that the two-trillion-baht investment would also be supplemented by the annual budget and investment funds of relevant state enterprises. The private sector would be invited to invest in certain projects, as well. The Government came up with these projects based on four concepts. The first concept involves ASEAN connectivity, linking Thailand with neighboring countries through the double-track system and the high-speed train service. The second concept emphasizes the distribution of wealth and the improvement of the Thai people’s quality of life. This means that congestion in Bangkok will ease, while new economic centers will be built in the regional areas of the country. The third concept involves efforts to strengthen Thailand’s economy by linking the production chains of agriculture, industry, and exports. The fourth concept seeks to connect tourism cities in the country. Thailand boasts many natural and cultural tourism destinations. With sufficient transportation and logistics facilities, those destinations will become more attractive to tourists. The Prime Minister said that the Thai economy over the next seven years of the investment projects would see an increase in GDP by one percent annually. The projects would generate jobs for 500,000 people and help stabilize the overall economy. Prime Minister Yingluck gave her assurance that the projects would be implemented with transparency, in accordance with the regulations of the Prime Minister’s Office and other related rules and regulations. She urged the House of Representatives and the people to join the Government in building the foundations for the future of Thailand and the next generation.

Thailand Welcomes Investments by Papua New Guinea

(29/03/2013)

Thailand welcomes investments planned by Papua New Guinea in Thailand, which is becoming the logistics hub of the ASEAN Community. In her speech at the Thailand – Papua New Guinea Business Event, held in Papua New Guinea on 25 March 2013, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra stated that Thailand would continue its technical cooperation with Papua New Guinea to develop local capacities and human resources in order to support the growing economy of Papua New Guinea. She called on the two countries to work together to increase the 400 million US dollars in trade and investment between them, since the value was in fact minimal. The Prime Minister said that Thailand supports overseas direct investment and exports by Thai companies, while promoting foreign direct investment in the Thai economy, giving special importance to the role of the private sector. Thai investors in agro-business and fishery industries are also looking for local partners to expand the market in Papua New Guinea and in the wider Pacific Islands market. As for tourism, she said, Thai companies are ready to bring their knowhow and work with local firms to brand and market the tourism industry of Papua New Guinea, whether in eco-tourism or other areas. And with Thailand attaching great importance to energy security, it supports successful cooperation and investment in the energy sector there. In the joint press statement between Prime Minister Peter O’Neill of Papua New Guinea and Prime Minister Yingluck on the same day, Papua New Guinea welcomed Thai business people wishing to explore business opportunities in Papua New Guinea, particularly in the areas of energy, agricultural products, fisheries, tourism, and infrastructure. In the area of technical cooperation, Prime Minister Yingluck expressed the Thai government’s preparedness to provide its expertise and experience in key development areas of priority to Papua New Guinea, such as public health, sufficiency economy, agriculture, fishery, SME development, and tourism. The two leaders underscored the positive outcomes of their bilateral discussions, which have resulted in a number of joint commitments and cooperative endeavors. In this regard, they attached importance to the establishment of the Papua New Guinea – Thailand Bilateral Consultations as a mechanism to discuss areas of mutual interest, ranging from political issues to economic and technical cooperation, as well as global challenges. Both leaders agreed that the consultations between the two countries would be at senior level and that the first meeting would be hosted by Thailand, in which the first framework of the discussion will include Thailand’s Technical Cooperation to advance business partnerships between Thailand and Papua New Guinea for the benefit of the two countries.

Festival of Science and Profession towards ASEAN in Central Thailand

(29/03/2013)

The Minister of Education, Mr. Phongthep Thepkanjana, chaired the opening ceremony of the “Festival of Science and Professions towards ASEAN in Central Thailand”. Organized by the Office of Non Formal and Informal Education (ONFIE), this event was held at the Sra Morakot Learning Park at ONFIE's local office in Samut Sakorn.

The Minister of Education said that he had learned that this event was crowd-pleasing and useful for non-formal education management. ONFIE showcased distinctive features of all regions in Thailand for both the unemployed and those who already in employment so that they could use the information to develop their professional skills.

Taking place on 25 to 27 March 2013 in Samut Sakorn, this event aimed to provide professional training to the unemployed and develop the professional skills of those who have jobs. It served as an activity to develop the population in preparation for ASEAN Community in terms of giving people moral support and positive attitudes to their present careers and promoting mutual living in society, especially in the community of Thai, Burmese and Raman people.

Activities included scientific studies from 16 provincial learning centers, displays by 10 professional training and development centers for Thai people along the Thai borders, activities by the 40 local offices of ONFIE in Samut Sakorn and other Networks of Learning Promotion for living together in the community of Thai, Burmese and Raman people. All the activities were prepared with the cooperation of the Network for Continuous Learning in Thai-Burmese borders towards the ASEAN Community and the Network on Informal Learning to create a learning society in Samut Sakorn.

Educational Success

(29/03/2013)

On 26 March 2013 at Suphan Buri Technical College, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Education, Mrs. Siriporn Kitkuakul, chaired a ceremony to award degree diplomas to graduates in the academic year 2012   Mrs. Siriporn said that education was a valuable and useful acquisition because it enabled people to solve problems and improve society.

Graduation is only one step towards completing a mission, because real education never ends and people have to continue learning at all times in order to have a prosperous future. So, we need to learn continuously for advancing our professional skills and for living happily with others. Education makes people realize the importance of leadership, unity, discipline, honesty and social contribution.

In the academic year 2012, 203 students from Suphan Buri Technical College completed their studies, 131 of whom finished lower vocational education and 72 finished at the higher level.

After the graduation ceremony, Mrs. Siriporn attended a ceremony to open a pavilion of commemoration for His Majesty the King's 84th birthday anniversary at Suphan Buri Technical College. The pavilion houses Phra Buddha Wimok, a Buddha image of the College. Then, she paid homage to Phra Vishnukrom, the God of Craftsmanship highly respected by Thai craftsmen.

Suphan Buri Technical College is now offering courses at lower and higher education levels on electronics, power electricity, construction, industrial mechanics, engine, technical industry and basic technicians. With Mr. Phisit Pattana-anusorn as the director, the College creates students who serve the needs of the labor market and enables them to use their knowledge effectively in their professions.

Educational Cooperation between Thailand and Bhutan

(29/03/2013)

The Secretary General of the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), Dr. Chaipruek Serirak, gave a warm welcome to the Permanent Secretary of Labor and Human Resources, Mr. Pema Wangda, and H.E. Mr. Kesang Wangdi, the Ambassador of Bhutan in Thailand, and other delegates from Bhutan who visited OVEC to follow up the work done by 19 English teaching volunteers from Bhutan. The volunteers came to Thailand on 1 November 2012 and are now teaching students at 16 vocational colleges.

The Bhutan delegates also discussed cooperation between the two countries on vocational education management with Dr. Chaipruek.

Government Emphasizes Its Efforts to Tackle Problems in the Deep South

(28/03/2013)

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has stressed the Government’s efforts to tackle problems in the southern border provinces. The Prime Minister stated that Muslim Thais have played significant roles in developing the country in all areas. The statement was part of her speech delivered at the closing ceremony of the Central Mawlid Festival. The festival took place at the National Administration Center for Islamic Affairs on 23-26 March 2013 in Nong Chok district, Bangkok. It is an annual event to celebrate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam. Prime Minister Yingluck cited the Central Mawlid Celebration as an important festival for Muslim Thais, when they show their faith in God and their upholding of religious principles. Islam is the world's largest religion today. Out of the population of 600 million persons in the ASEAN region, more than half, over 300 million, are Muslims. The Prime Minister said that the Government is determined to develop the quality of life of Muslim Thais in all aspects, such as education, religious practice, health promotion, employment generation, and the protection of their lives and property. In Thailand, Muslims of Malay descent are concentrated in the southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Satun, and some districts of Songkhla. Ninety-nine percent are Sunni and one percent Shi’ite. Prime Minister Yingluck said that the Government has facilitated the travel of Muslim Thais to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage. It has provided pilgrims with various services to ensure their welfare during the Hajj observance in Saudi Arabia. For instance, the Government has sent a medical team to Saudi Arabia to provide health services for the Hajj pilgrims free of charge. As the number of Hajj pilgrims is on the rise each year, she said, the authorities would seek ways in their coordination to provide them with better care and more convenience. More flights have been arranged for Hajj pilgrims in Narathiwat this year. The Prime Minister said that the Government has a policy to promote Thai halal food production and exports. Emphasis is placed on developing the standards of Thai halal food, so that it would gain greater recognition in the international community. She found that during her visits to Muslim countries, Thai halal food was well-accepted. The Government is ready to work with Muslim Thais to develop halal food in order to increase its share in the world market. She called on Muslim Thais to cooperate in boosting Thai products among Muslims in ASEAN and beyond. All Muslim Thais were also urged to help create better understanding about Islamic principles among the people. The Government is also ready to promote relations between Muslim Thais and those in the rest of the Muslim world.

Lampang Historical Train and Horse Carriage Festival

(28/03/2013)

Lying about 600 kilometers north of Bangkok, Lampang is an old province that is well worth a visit. It is the only province in Thailand where horse-drawn carriages are still used as a means of public transport. The province welcomes all visitors to its “Lampang Historical Train and Horse Carriage Festival,” to be held from 1 to 5 April 2013. The festival, the 14th of its kind, will take place in front of the Nakhon Lampang Railway Station in Mueang district. It will commemorate the history of Lampang’s train service and horse carriages. Among the activities during the five-day festival are cultural performances, a light and sound show, a bazaar of local products, a food festival, and an exhibition on the history of train service and horse carriages in Lampang. Visitors will experience an old-style market where participants dress in traditional costumes, and they may go on a city tour in horse-drawn carriages to visit the various attractions. Lampang is located in the middle of the valley of the Wang River, and the province covers a vast area of forest. One of the natural resources found in this province is white clay, which is used to make high-quality ceramics. The ceramics industry has become an important industry in Lampang, which is noted for its excellent ceramics – souvenirs and other products crafted from ceramics have made a name for this province. The town of Lampang has a long history dating bck to the Hariphunchai Kingdom, which is believed to have been founded in the seventh or early eighth century. During the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), the first horse carriage was brought from Bangkok for use in Lampang. Horse carriages were also introduced for use as public transport in other northern provinces, such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phrae, Nan, and Mae Hong Son, but they have not been used in those provinces for a number of years. In 1952, an association, called the Horse Carriage in Lampang Province, was established to operate the horse-drawn cart business there. For most Thais, the symbol of Lampang is the horse-drawn carriage. During the reign of King Chulalongkorn, who ruled the Kingdom from 1868 to 1910, railway transport was introduced into Thailand. The first royal train arrived at the Nakhon Lampang Railway Station in Lampang on 1 April 1916 in the reign of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI). Passengers could ride in comfort from Nakhon Lampang Station to town in one of the many horse carriages available. For nearly a century, trains and horse carriages have played a vital role as means of transportation in Lampang, for both business and pleasure. In the past, Lampang was regarded simply as a picturesque town where tourists could make a brief stop on their way to Chiang Mai, the largest city in northern Thailand. The province is now a focal point for elephant conservation in Thailand. It is the location of the Thai Elephant Conservation Center, which has become a major tourist attraction in the North and has helped promote eco-tourism in Thailand.

Myanmar Prepares for ASEAN Chairmanship in 2014

(28/03/2013)

As Myanmar continues preparations to assume the role of chair of ASEAN for the first time in 2014, a U.S.-supported event brought Government officials together with senior officials from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia and Indonesia, and officials from the ASEAN Secretariat, to present Myanmar with an opportunity to learn from past ASEAN chairs.

During his opening remarks, H.E. U Thant Kyaw, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs said that, “The Government greatly appreciates receiving the benefits of the experiences of previous chairs from our esteemed colleagues from Cambodia and Indonesia, as well as the ASEAN Secretariat. We look forward to building on the momentum they have created in the last few years as we take on the leadership of ASEAN next year.”

The purpose of the workshop was to assist the Government in its preparations by examining remaining agenda items in implementing the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community, the lessons learned and the best practices in ASEAN Chairmanship, and managing the preparations of Chairmanship. Discussions during the workshop included a focus on carrying out ASEAN’s initiatives in the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community, the Initiative for ASEAN Integration, and the ASEAN Master Plan on Connectivity.

“Apart from implementing the Roadmap, the Chair has a key role to play in promoting ASEAN centrality, and leads ASEAN as the primary driving force in its relations and cooperation with external partners in the evolving regional architecture,” said H.E. U Nyan Lynn, Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Political-Security Community. ASEAN’s dialogue and cooperation frameworks include the ASEAN Plus One, the ASEAN Plus Three, the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus, and the East Asia Summit.

The event concluded with discussion on ways to assist the Government build its capacity as it prepares to take on the role of ASEAN Chair, and a review of the assistance so far provided by ASEAN Member States, ASEAN's Dialogue Partners, and other entities.

“Assumption of the ASEAN Chair in 2014 marks a great opportunity for Myanmar and the region," said U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN David L. Carden during the opening of the workshop.  "As Myanmar continues to make strides in its internal reform processes and increases its linkages to the world beyond its borders, it will look first to its ASEAN neighbours who have consistently offered support and encouragement.  In the coming years I have every confidence Myanmar will be a leading contributor to ASEAN integration."

The Workshop on the Leadership of ASEAN in 2014 was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar and the ASEAN Secretariat in collaboration with the U.S. Government-funded ASEAN-U.S. Technical Assistance and Training Facility.

ASEAN Engages Citizen through Social Media

(28/03/2013)

With the rapidly expanding rate of the use of new media in the region, the role of social media becomes increasingly important alongside traditional media in promoting ASEAN community building. On Facebook alone, more than 130 million of ASEAN population are active users with Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia are among the 20 largest Facebook communities in the world. There is a need to strengthen the effort in maximising the use of different platforms strategically aimed at different target audiences.

Social Media experts from ASEAN Member States, EU Commission, Australia and Germany gathered in Bangkok and had an intensive discussion during the 2nd Social Media Exchange last week on 22-24 March 2013. The three-day workshop was supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Participants shared their knowledge and experiences with the ASEAN Secretariat to define possible strategies for ASEAN to engage citizen more effectively through the various Social Media platforms. Subjects discussed, among others, are: Social Trends and Insight 2013, Brand Strategy, ASEAN Message and Priority, Benchmark campaigning and social programme planning strategies, and Campaigning concepts and implementation.

Success stories were also shared during the Exchange including an organic creation of an ASEAN Community page that is currently managed by a group of 30 youths from all 10 ASEAN countries working together voluntarily to help promote ASEAN and its 10 Member States. From the past two years since its formation in 2011, this non-official ASEAN Community page has already reached 146,245 likes with over 59,000 people talking about the page. Kobchart J. Boon, a 19-year-old university student and one of the administrators of the page shared his views that “the topics people seem to be most interested in are places, cultures and food”. The collaboration of 30 administrators from 10 countries is mostly focusing on these aspects to populate the page with non-political matters.   

For the past two years, the ASEAN Secretariat has also been utilising the use of various social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Youtube in promoting ASEAN, but there is a need to strengthen and maximise this effort. The ASEAN Secretariat aims to work on a Social Media Campaign in 2013 to further improve the awareness and reach out to a wider target audience in ASEAN Member States and beyond.

Commencement of JENESYS 2.0 for ASEAN

(28/03/2013)

About 80 university students from ASEAN will visit Japan from 31 March to 7 April 2013 as the first participants of JENESYS (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth) 2.0.

JENESYS 2.0 is a new youth exchange programme which Prime Minister Abe announced during his visit to Indonesia last January. Approximately 30,000 youths from Asia/Oceania region including 10,000 youths from ASEAN countries, will have an opportunity to visit Japan this year.

The programme is designed for youth in ASEAN to learn about the many opportunities to be involved and contribute to ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). They will participate in the visiting programmes that will provide opportunities to deliberate on various aspects, after having a first-hand experience from Japan. The participants will be divided into three groups to visit Chubu area, Kansai area or Kyusyu area; and observe Japan’s cutting-edge high technologies and its support for local industries and creative industries, experience Japan’s traditional culture, and communicate with local people.

This programme is expected to develop exchange and mutual understanding among youths in Japan and ASEAN.

National Assembly of Vocational Scouts

(28/03/2013)

The Minister of Education, Mr. Phongthep Thepkanjana, chaired the opening ceremony of the 17th National Assembly of Vocational Boy Scouts and Girl Guides on 25 March 2013 at Wajirawuth Scout Camp in Sri Racha. A total of 5,000 scouts, girl guides and commanders took part in the event along with 50 other scouts and girl guides from other ASEAN countries.

The Education Minister said that the scout movement was a crucial element in human resources development for both students and ministerial executives. Even the curricula for executive development included the scout movement. Nowadays boy scouts and girl guides are having better opportunities because there is a national assembly every two years. This is a good chance for them to share knowledge, improve themselves and befriend other people.

Working in the modern world will be smooth and successful if we know many people and have many friends. So, besides honing one’s skills, one should have as many friends as possible. The Minister hopes that all the participants will strengthen their scout networks at this assembly. Moreover, the founder of the boy scouts, Lord Baden-Powell, once said, "Be prepared". Therefore, all boy scouts and girl guides should be well-prepared for any situation in the future.

Organized by the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) from 23 to 29 March 2013, the 17th National Assembly of Vocational Boy Scouts and Girl Guides aims to create networks of ASEAN scouts and guides, broaden the horizons of students and prepare the country for the ASEAN Community. It also serves as a forum in which all participants can exchange knowledge, share their experiences and demonstrate their useful skills to others.

The major activities at the assembly include scout camp activities, life skills development, recreational games and pastimes which allow vocational students to learn how to live and work with others so that they are good people for society when they graduate.

OVEC & CPSC Organize Capacity Building Training

(28/03/2013)

Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) and the CPSC organized a training course on core competency and evaluation between 25 and 29 March 2013 at Indrachai Commercial College. The opening ceremony, which took place on 25 March 2013 at Town in Town Hotel in Bangkok, was chaired by the OVEC Secretary, General Dr. Chaipruek Serirak.

According to Dr. Chaipruek, this training was launched by OVEC and CPSP, which is an internationally famous organization on vocational education management. It aims to enable participating teachers, educators and educational personnel to gain knowledge and understanding as well as to apply the knowledge and experience from the training to manage vocational education in order to serve the needs of the labor market and entrepreneurs. At present, OVEC is developing a new curricula focusing on the educational management required by core competency. Every vocational student who completes his studies has to be able to assess his core competency. Apart from attending lectures from CPSP's speakers and exchanging knowledge with other participants, all participants will have the opportunity to undertake field studies at a company so that they can use the actual work of the company as a framework for vocational education management in the future.

National Public Speaking Competition 2013

(28/03/2013)

The Minister of Education, Mr. Phongthep Thepkanjana, presented awards to a student who had won the National Public Speaking Competition 2013 on 22 March 2013. Organized by the Ministry of Education and the English Speaking Union (ESU) (Thailand), this competition selected only one student for entry in an international public speaking competition which will take place in England from 13 to 17 May 2013. This year's award winning student is Mr. Intouch Pitichareon from Ekamai International School.

The topic for English public speaking selected by the ESU for the international competition is “Ideas are our Greatest Weapons”. It will take place from 13 to 14 May 2013 in England. The selection of students for the final competition was made in the semi final round on 4 March 2013 at Ho Wang School when ten students were chosen to enter the final round on 22 March 2013 at the Imperial Queen's Park Hotel in Bangkok.

Private Sector to Reduce Electricity Use during the Gas-Suspension Period

(27/03/2013)

The Ministry of Energy has asked for cooperation from the private sector to reduce electricity use from 5 to 14 April 2013, when Myanmar temporarily suspends its natural gas supply to Thailand for maintenance work. The Cabinet, during its meeting on 26 March 2013, acknowledged a report on preparations for minimizing impacts from a possible electricity shortage during the gas-suspension period. According to the report, the Ministry of Energy has received good cooperation from the Federation of Thai Industries and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand in reducing power consumption. Members of the Federation of Thai Industries agreed to reduce electricity use by 408 megawatts during the period. The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand reported that its members would cut power consumption by 83 megawatts. When combined with an electricity cut of 56 megawatts from four large industrial plants, namely Thai Asahi Glass Factory, PTO Cement Mixer, and two Siam City Cement plants, power consumption by the private sector will drop by 547 megawatts. Regarding the campaign for energy saving, the Ministry of Energy told the Cabinet that it had worked out a plan to raise awareness about energy conservation for three periods: before, during, and after the emergency situation. A media plan has also been mapped out in cooperation with relevant agencies, so that the general public would be provided with useful information about energy saving. The Ministry of Energy will launch activities as part of the campaign at Government House on 4 April 2013, with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra presiding over the launching ceremony. As for the reduction of electricity use in the public sector, the Cabinet has instructed relevant agencies to monitor the reduction in electricity consumption in various government offices. The measure will set a good example for the general public. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy has prepared bunker oil and diesel to replace natural gas for electricity generation during the temporary disruption of the natural gas supply from Myanmar. Both bunker oil and diesel have been sent to power plants under the supervision of the Electricity Authority of Thailand and large private power plants. Small power producers have been asked to increase their electricity generation by 110 megawatts, as well. The report indicated that preparations for the gas-suspension period would lead to an increase in Thailand’s electricity reserves to 1,424 megawatts. At the same meeting, the Cabinet also approved the development of power transmission systems in the northeastern provinces of Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon, and Amnat Charoen, in preparation for the purchase of hydropower from Lao PDR, with a combined investment fund of 7.3 billion baht. The project will help diversify Thailand’s energy sources and reduce its heavy dependence on natural gas for electricity generation in the future.

Do not Underestimate Students from their O-Net: Chinnapat

(27/03/2013)

On 25 March 2013, the Secretary General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Dr. Chinnapat Bhumirat, talked about the results of the Ordinary National Education Test or O-Net of the Grade 12 students in the academic year 2012. He reported that some students had scored an average lower than 50% in each subject. Then, he suggested that the score did not measure how able a student was but we should consider how far educational quality has progressed. Dr. Chinnapat said that the scores in O-Net's eight core subjects had increased, especially in five of them: Thai, Social Sciences, English, Art, General Sciences and Health Studies. From now on,  OBEC will analyze the reason why students had very low scores and improve their learning.

"I don't want anyone to interpret that the lower the marks the students score, the lower their learning ability will become. We'd be better to consider their development more than their scores because I'd like the learning achievement to be a part of educational quality mobilization. This will reflect different things for the better and won't affect Thai education in a negative way," concluded Dr. Chinnapat.

TU Plans for ASEAN Studies Network

(27/03/2013)

The director of the ASEAN Studies Center of Thammasat University, Mr. Praphas Thepchatree, said at an academic conference to initiate ASEAN studies networks that one of the main challenges for the ASEAN Community lay in the vague understanding which might later result in overreaction and unnecessary fear. Therefore, Thai universities should build an ASEAN Studies network with other universities in the ASEAN region.

Serving as a mechanism for cooperation between universities in ASEAN to strengthen educational foundations, the ASEAN Studies network aims to develop human resources and create accurate knowledge of the ASEAN countries and their people.       

The TU's ASEAN Studies Center will serve as a resource hub for ASEAN Studies because it coordinated with many database centers and worked as an in-depth knowledge warehouse of ASEAN Studies materials.

"To successfully build the ASEAN Studies network, we should begin with creating local networks which link information together before expanding them regionally and inter-regionally," said Mr. Praphas.

Ms. Chadarat Singhadechakul, the director of the Foreign Higher Education Strategy Bureau to the Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC), said that, at the end of this month, a meeting of ASEAN Network Universities would be organized to discuss credit transfer between ASEAN universities. In actual fact, credit transfer is already used in student exchange programs.

Currently, 26 universities from 10 countries have become members of the AUN. Thailand has four AUN members: Chulalongkorn University, Thammasat University, Mahidol University and Burapha University.

Creating Good Scientists should Start at Primary Level: Phongthep

(27/03/2013)

The Minister of Education, Mr. Phongthep Thepkanjana, recently stated that the creation of innovative scientists should start in primary schools. In other words, students should gain the skills and knowledge at a very young age.

Mr. Phongthep chaired the opening of the 8th Conference on Science and Technology for Thai Youths organized by Silpakorn University's Faculty of Sciences and the National Institute of the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology. This event showcased scientific innovations by many gifted creators in Thailand and aimed to encourage Thai children to study the sciences according to the government policy of creating more Thai scientists. Although the National Institute has produced over 2,000 scientists, the country still needs more to improve, create and develop innovations useful for national development. Realizing that other countries are more advanced scientifically, Mr. Phongthep suggested that teachers should teach scientific knowledge to their students at as early an age as possible.

The Conference featured a lot of educational activities for the participants, namely poster and oral presentations of research projects, exhibits of research and over 400 scientific projects by Thai students.