Bangkok— U.S. Agency for International Development/Asia Mission Director Michael Yates and Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency Director General Piroon Laismit pledged to increase their collaboration on development in Asia today by signing an historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at a public ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok.

The signing of the document represents an important step forward in USAID’s relationship with the Government of Thailand as a donor country. The MOU frames a partnership between USAID and TICA, working together as equals, to support development in less-developed countries. “We are very pleased with this new phase in our relationship with Thailand, moving from donor-beneficiary to equal partners,” said Yates. “Together, we can make an important difference in accelerating social and economic development and improving lives in the region and around the world.”

TICA was established in 2004 under Royal Decree to serve as the focal point for the Government of Thailand’s international development cooperation. It falls under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its predecessor agency, the Department of Technical and Economic Cooperation (DTEC), was formed with USAID support.

While USAID/Asia and other U.S. Government agencies have worked with Thai ministries to provide assistance to other countries, this will be the first formal MOU (and comprehensive agreement) between the U.S. Government and the Government of Thailand’s international development agency. TICA utilizes a “whole of government” mechanism to support bilateral or trilateral aid.

Thai government ministries work with beneficiary government counterparts to develop project proposals which are then submitted to TICA. Almost all of TICA’s funding is provided in government-to-government form. Priority countries for support have been the Lower Mekong Initiative countries (Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam) although TICA has expanded its coverage to other developing countries.