It was the 16th time that Thailand hosted the GBM since it joined the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) in 1965.
As the highest policymaking body of SEARCA, the Governing Board (GB) conducts an annual evaluation of the Center's accomplishments and sets its general directions and strategies to effectively respond to the current and emerging concerns of agricultural and rural development in the Southeast Asian region. The GB also examines the Center's financial health and operational performance in the preceding fiscal year.
Representatives from the 11 SEAMEO member countries likewise shared their country experiences and challenges as initial inputs in preparing for the Center's 11th Five-Year Plan (FYP), covering fiscal years 2019/2020 to 2023/2024. Also in the agenda were updates and way forward on the Southeast Asian AgriMuseum and Learning Center for Agricultural and Rural Development.
At the opening ceremony, SEARCA launched the Thailand volume of the Southeast Asian Agriculture and Development Primer (SAADP) second edition, which focused on policies and institutional reforms in the agriculture sector of each member country. Seven other volumes of the SAADP second edition were also given to each country representative during the GBM.
Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr., SEARCA Director, expressed his appreciation to MOE, Thailand, and to past and ongoing SEARCA GB members, as well as partner institutions for their continued commitment and support to the Center in the past 50 years.
The opening ceremony was attended by former SEARCA Director Dr. Arturo A. Gomez, together with his wife Dr. Kwanchai Gomez, Secretary General of the Thai Rice Foundation; Dr. Tinsiri Siribodhi, former Deputy Director for Administration and Communication of the SEAMEO Secretariat; representatives from partner institutions; and SEARCA scholars and alumni who are based in Bangkok.
