APCD Booth presented Disability-Inclusive Sports and Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction equipments, presented by Ms. Supaanong Panyasirimongkol, APCD Networking & Collaboration Officer and Mr. Panomkorn Prasitsuparoph, APCD Administrative Officer
Mr. Piroon Laismit, APCD Executive Director, led the exhibition booth and presided over the Launch.
Opening Remarks delivered by H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kasetsart University and the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) was made on purpose of research collaboration and the development of local African rice varieties.
On 8 December 2025, the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) expanded its international outreach by hosting an exhibition booth at the Thailand–Africa Development Forum (TADF), held in conjunction with The Relaunching of the Thailand–Africa Initiative (TAI) at The Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok.
The event was presided over by H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, to reaffirm Thailand’s policy towards Africa under the Thailand–Africa Initiative and its commitment to strengthening relations with African countries in all dimensions. The relaunching ceremony was attended by high-level representatives from African countries, notably H.E. Mr. Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, members of the Diplomatic Corps in Thailand, representatives of international organizations, and stakeholders from Thailand’s public and private sectors.
APCD’s exhibition booth served as a platform to present its mandate, programmes, and best practices on disability-inclusive development, highlighting the role of South–South and Triangular Cooperation in advancing inclusive and sustainable development. Through policy dialogue and knowledge-sharing materials, APCD emphasized the importance of mainstreaming disability inclusion, accessibility, and the empowerment of persons with disabilities as integral components of development cooperation between Thailand, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.
During the event, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and Nigeria also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kasetsart University and the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) on research collaboration and the development of local African rice varieties. The MoU aims to enhance food security in the African region and formed part of the official visit of the Nigerian Foreign Minister to Thailand, which focused on strengthening bilateral relations and advancing cooperation under the TAI framework. This cooperation aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, as well as Nigeria’s and Africa’s current approaches to sustainable development.
