More than 200 people from the government, private sector and media have attended the event to celebrate the 40thanniversary of partnership between UNFPA and the Royal Thai Government on 23 April 2013 at the Government House.The event, presided by Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana, was aimed at enhancing the future collaboration in addressing the new population policy and to dedicate to Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother and Her Royal Highness Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra who have laid down a solid foundation for family planning and reproductive health programmes in Thailand.
In his opening speech, Mr. Caspar Peek, UNFPA Representative for Thailand, urged Thai people to be prepared for changing demographic landscape which will considerably impact the kingdom's socio and economic environment in the next decade.Mr. Peek suggested three options to help Thailand survive the ageing trap. First, Thailand needs to put in place the systems to cope with an ageing society such as the retirement benefits, long-term health care and public utilities for elderly people in public places. Secondly, investment in quality education should be promoted to ensure every single young person's potential be thoroughly cultivated and used. Third, the society, through the government and the employers, should introduce the measures to make women feel less hesitant to have more children by providing the system to enable them to assume the role of mother and worker at the same time. For instance, affordable quality daycare to help mothers should be provided.
Mr. Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Secretary General of the National Economic and Social Development Board, said Thailand's population policy to reduce the birth rate has been remarkably successful over the past four decades. However, new social and economic developments as well as rapid changing population structure also bring a new challenge to the country with increase life expectancy and low birth rates, as well as social and economic disparities.
Mr. Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister Office, the change of Thailand's demographic structure will have a long term impact to the kingdom's three strategies. They are the strategy to enhance Thailand's competitiveness to enable the kingdom to sail through the Middle-Income Trap, the strategy to promote the Inclusive Growth particularly the goal to improve the quality of life for people who are in the lowest tier of society and the strategy to promote the Green Growth.
During the event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of partnership between UNFPA and the Royal Thai Government at the Government House on the population policy, the book titled "Everyone Counts - 40 Years of Working Together for A Better Future" dedicated to Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother and Her Royal Highness Galyani Vadhana was also launched.
