On 1 June 2016, General Prayut Chan-o-cha (Ret.), the Prime Minister of Thailand presided over the opening ceremony of “SEP in Business: A G-77 Forum on the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals” at the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok. The SEP in Business is the second meeting building on the first meeting entitled “G-77 Bangkok Roundtable on Sufficiency Economy: an Approach to Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals” organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand during 28-29 February 2016. This meeting aimed to share with G-77 members Thailand’s development approach based on Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP), in particular the application in business sector, as a means to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and experiences of businesses that successfully applied SEP into their operational activities and strategies.
In his opening speech, the Prime Minister of Thailand underscored the importance of global partnership in order to leave no one behind and achieve the SDGs, and all relevant stakeholders, in particular, the business sector, need to be engaged. He shared Thailand’s development model based on SEP which businesses can be utilized as a decision-making framework for sustainable business management. He further reiterated that SEP does not go against capitalism but stresses on responsible capitalism based on inclusive development for the common good. He also further emphasized on Thailand’s vision “Stability, Prosperity and Sustainability” and the economic structural reform towards “Thailand 4.0 Model” in order to graduate from “middle-income trap” in accordance with Thailand’s 20 years national strategy by utilizing the “State of the people” policy or Pracharat as the main driver.
Dr. Prasarn Triratvorakul, former Governor of the Bank of Thailand, member of Thailand Sustainable Development Foundation delivered a keynote speech. He explained how Thailand adopted SEP into macro-economic management to recover after the economic crisis in 1997. He further noted how Thailand re-oriented its economy through strengthening resilience of domestic real sectors, financial system development for sustainable growth, building up strong institutions and pursuing growth with macro-stability, equity and sustainability based on SEP. He also reaffirmed the importance of using SEP to address emerging challenges in business operation nowadays.
The morning session of the meeting moderated by Mr. Nick Pisalyaput, Director, Sasin Centre for Sustainability Management, Chulalongkorn University, highlighted the application of SEP as a model for sustainable development in business sector through exchanging experiences and best practices with private, academic and public sector. The panelists namely Mr. Stephen B. Young, Global Executive Director, Caux Round Table; Mrs. Kesara Manchusree, President, Stock Exchange of Thailand; Mr. Krisda Piampongsant, Advisor, Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand; Mr. Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, President and CEO Thai Beverage Public Company Limited; and Mr. Supachai Chearavanont, Vice Chairman, Charoen Pokphand Group, President and CEO, True Corporation were of the view that SEP can be used for sustainable business management and laid foundation which helped companies to be able to recover from the economic crisis. They further noted that the public sector has a major role to create incentives for private to operate based on sustainability and invest for sustainable development by setting regulations, promoting knowledge on the subject to the public and entrepreneurs.
In the afternoon, the participants had the opportunity to visit the interactive “World Café” and the exhibition on SEP as a means to achieve SDGs organized by Thailand Sustainable Development Foundation and discussed with businesses who successfully integrated SEP into their business management, such as Ban Anurak Kradat Sa (Mulberry Paper Conservation House), Xongdur, Nithi Foods Co. Ltd., Bathroom Design, Plan Toys and Siam Cement Group (SCG). At the same event, participants also had the opportunity to discuss with Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) on the future cooperation on SEP projects and initiatives between Thailand and the G-77 members.
During the afternoon session, H.E. Mr. Macharia Kamau, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations, former Co-Chair and Co-Facilitator on the intergovernmental negotiation process of the SDGs and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, shared with the participants on the development of SDGs and the Agenda 2030 as well as their implementation process and future challenges.
On 2 June 2016, the participants visited Suan Sam Pran, Nakhon Pathom Province to see how SEP can be used to bring about sustainable development through business and local farmers partnership.
The meeting concluded successfully. More than 230 participants participated including Ambassadors /Permanent Representatives of G-77 countries from the Permanent Missions in New York and Embassies in Bangkok, senior-level officials from the concerned Ministries from capitals, as well as representatives from international organizations and representatives of Thai government agencies, the private sector and the academia.
