31 July, 2024
On July 31, 2024, H.H. Mr. Witchu Vejjajiva, Ambassador of Thailand in Japan, accompanied by two lady staff of the Embassy: Counsellor Patamon Panchavinnin, and Ms. Pawitra Matkham, in charge of economic affairs, paid a visit to the OISCA Headquarters. On the OISCA side, Ms. Etsuko Nakano, President of OISCA International, Mr. Yasuaki Nagaishi, Secretary General,, and Akira Morita, Managing Director and Director of International Cooperation Division, and others met with the Ambassador and his party.
Ambassador Witchu participated in the event for Mt. Fuji Reforestation Project held in early July and though this fieldwork, he got interested in the OISCA activities, and wanted to acquire more information on OISCA.
President Nakano mentioned that OISCA’s relations with Thailand date back to the early 1970s. OISCA first started its cooperative projects: agricultural development and afforestation in Surin Province in North Eastern Thailand in 1975. In March 1981, on the occasion of the visit to Japan of Their Royal Majesty and Highness, Queen Sirikit and Princess Chulabborn of Thailand, OISCA led by the late President Yoshiko Nakano invited them to Gifu Prefecture and organized a welcome program in honor of Their Royal Majesty and Highness.
Meanwhile in 2002, the Governor of Surin Province donated to OISCA two elephants as a token of appreciation for OISCA’s contribution to the afforestation and agricultural development in the province. In consultation with Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, OISCA decided to donate the elephants to the Ueno Zoo to commemorate the birth of Royal Higheness Princess Aiko.
Mr. Nagaishi then followed with a detailed explanation of OISCA’s activities in Thailand. Currently, OISCA is carrying out various activities such as organic agricultural development, capacity development, children’s forest program (CFP), and mangrove forestation in Surin, Khon Kaen, Ayutthaya, Chiang Rai Province in the north, and Ranong in the South. Mr. Nagaishi specifically emphasized the significance of CFP stating that it is very important to expose school children to tree planting and forest management from an early age. At present, 3,354 children from 235 schools are taking part in CFP activity in Thailand.
Ambassador Witchu asked about financial aspects of OISCA activities. Mr. Nagaishi replied that Japan’s major private corporations, labor unions and private individuals are positively supporting OISCA activities.
In this connection, Ambassador Witchu stated that Thai major corporations such as Siam Cement, and CP groups are actively promoting CSR activities and suggested that from now on, he might be able to serve as a bridge between the Thai corporations and OISCA.
Then, the Ambassador and the party were shown two videos on OISCA’s ongoing projects in Chiang Rai and Ranong. OISCA Thailand has been carrying out the projects in forestation, development of organic agriculture, honeybeekeeping, and improvement of people’s livelihood in Chiang Rai and in addition, mangrove planting, goat breeding, development of fishing, and manufacturing fish sauce, soap, medical cream and vegetable dyeing in Ranong Province with the grant assistamce for Japan’s NOG projects granted by the Foreign Ministry.
Finally, Ambassador Witchu said it was a very infomative session and they would keep in touch closely with the OISCA side.
