The APTERR Secretariat, led by Dr. Choomjet Karnjanakesorn, paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Mr. Tull Traisorat, Ambassador of Thailand to the Philippines, on 15 August 2023. This underscored the strong ties among ASEAN Plus Three countries and their commitment to fostering collaborative efforts in humanitarian assistance.
(From L-R) Dr. Choomjet Karnjanakesorn, General Manager of the APTERR Secretariat; H.E. Mr. Tull Traisorat, Ambassador of Thailand to the Philippines; Ms. Janthana Chotimunee, Minister Counsellor (Commercial); Mrs. Yupawan Premchit Taniguchi, Counsellor (Economics); and Ms. Atipha Vadhanapong, First Secretary (Politics)
During the visit, the APTERR Secretariat engaged in a constructive and meaningful dialogue with the Ambassador, discussing matters of current food security situation in the Philippines and potential avenues for further assistance. Both also highlighted the importance of initiatives in addressing regional challenges and bolstering food stability, particularly in the face of escalating natural disasters.
Within the course of the discussion, Dr. Karnjanakesorn provided a comprehensive overview of APTERR and its roles on enhancing food security in ASEAN Plus Three, particularly in the Philippines. He further informed about APTERR’s current activities in providing 300-MT rice assistance contributed by Japan to people affected by destructive Mayon Volcano in Albay.
The visit served as a platform to reiterate the APTERR Secretariat's dedication to work closely with the member countries in delivering more humanitarian support to those affected. This emphasises the commitment under the APTERR to strengthening food security in the region.
The representatives from the Royal Thai Embassy attending this meeting included Ms. Janthana Chotimunee, Minister Counsellor (Commercial), Mrs. Yupawan Premchit Taniguchi, Counsellor (Economics), and Ms. Atipha Vadhanapong, First Secretary (Politics). Meanwhile, the representatives from the APTERR team consisted of Mr. Akinori Ando, Japanese Expert, Ms. Jansinee Kankaew, Head of Implementation, Ms. Bussapailyn Shimphalee, Staff for Implementation, and Ms. Sita Kumpol, Secretary to Japanese Expert.
(From L-R) H.E. Mr. Tull Traisorat, Ambassador of Thailand to the Philippines and Mr. Akinori Ando, Japanese Expert to the APTERR Secretariat