During 22 – 26 July 2016, the Royal Thai Embassy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, arranged a study visit to Thailand for a delegation of Daw Khin Kyi Foundation to explore the real-world implementation of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) which was envisioned and developed by H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej  of Thailand. The delegation comprised Dr. Ohmar Moe Myint, Executive Member, Ms. Nanda Suu Hlaing, Project Coordinator of Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, as well as Ms. Thandar Aye, Member of Yangon Regional Parliament from Kawhmu Township Constituency.

This study visit is a follow-up to the official visit of H.E. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor of Myanmar and also founder of Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, to Thailand during 23 - 25 June 2016. With her brief excursion to Nakhon Pathom Province, she learnt the potential of SEP that could be applied in Myanmar, especially in Kawhmu Township which is her constituency.

Entrusted by H.E. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Dr. Ohmar Moe Myint and her colleagues made a field trip to the Learning Center of the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy at Ban Hua Aow and Sampran Riverside Hotel in Nakhon Pathom Province where H.E. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had visited earlier. They had an opportunity to explore in depth how SEP can be applied to community development and organic farming which are areas that Daw Khin Kyi Foundation has been working on　in Myanmar. A day earlier on 23 July 2016, the delegation of Daw Khin Kyi also visited Chang Hua Man Royal Project in Petchaburi which was initiated by H.M. King Bhumibhol Adulyadej to serve as a learning center on agriculture for farmers in the area as well as ordinary people from all over the country. 

During the visit, Dr. Ohmar Moe Myint and her party also met with Mr. Panyarak Poolthup, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Ms. Suphathra Srimaitreephithak, Direct-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Mr. Singtong Lapisatepun, Director-General of East Asian Affairs, and Mr. Suvit Simasakul, Vice President of Thai – Myanmar Friendship Association. In these separate meetings, both sides discussed ways and means to foster development cooperation between Thailand and Myanmar, and, in particular, the application of SEP in different contexts of development.

The organising of this study visit of Daw Khin Kyi Foundation’s delegation is part of Thailand’s firm commitment to assisting Myanmar’s development efforts by working in partnership with the country’s different actors. Thailand strongly believes that, with its focus on moderation, reasonableness and self-immunity, SEP could serve as an alternative and sustainable approach to development in Myanmar. 

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