On 5 - 8 September 2024, the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, in collaboration with the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and the Thai Students Association in Malaysia (TSAM), organised a 2024 Networking Programme between Thai Youths from Southern Boder Provinces and Thai Students in Malaysia at the Embassy and famous landmarks in Kuala Lumpur. The Networking Programme was well participated by over 30 Thai youths, comprising those who previously participated in the DVIFA’s Training Programme at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Thai students in Malaysia.

 

On 5 September 2024, H.E. Ms. Lada Phumas, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, presided over the Opening Ceremony of the Programme at the Embassy’s conference room. In her address, the Ambassador underlined the importance of leveraging the knowledge and experience gained from the DVIFA’s and the Embassy’s programmes to empower themselves to become the new generation with great potentials, endowed with capabilities, competencies, virtue, and preparedness so as to serve as the nation’s source of strength and being the driving force for Thailand – Malaysia relations.

 

Following the opening ceremony, the Ambassador hosted a dinner reception at the Thai Residence in a warm and cordial atmosphere, which leaves a great impression among the participants.

 

The activities of the Programme included a briefing session on various aspects of Thailand – Malaysia relations by the Embassy, notably the roles and responsibilities of the Embassy in safeguarding and promoting national interests, the study visits at Thai private sector in Malaysia such as Charoen Pokphand Food (CPF) Malaysia and Central Pattana (CPN)’s Central i-City Mall, as well as significant landmarks in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, many of which have linkages to Thailand and southern border provinces such as Pattani artworks featured at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.

 

The Embassy’s Networking Programme, firstly held this year, aims to build on the DVIFA’s programmes and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand’s ongoing efforts, with the Embassy playing a forward role, in advancing the development of Thailand’s southern border provinces. It also provides Thai youths and students in Malaysia with opportunities to broaden horizon, develop career skills, and establish networks among themselves, as well as with Thai public and private sectors in Malaysia, thus opening up more avenues for trade and connectivity between Thailand and Malaysia and strengthened economic security for the people and southern border provinces of Thailand.