Dear Readers,
 
This newsletter is the last for 2018 and, as usual, it presents updates on our GIZ’s activities during the last quarter. This issue covers a wide variety of topics including renewable energy, agriculture & food safety, urban & industrial development, sector networks and special features. We hope you will enjoy browsing through it as we move towards 2018.

GIZ Training Services Bangkok has some new and interesting courses lined up for the coming year. You can check them out at http://training.thai-german-cooperation.info/index.php/training.

For more regular updates, please visit us at: www.thai-german-cooperation.info and 
www.facebook.com/gizthailand.

Happy New Year from us all!
Your newsletter team
HIGHLIGHT
EGAT receives a fund of THB 320 million in support of energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling technologies
Thailand Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (RAC NAMA)
READ MORE

Agriculture & Food Safety

New ASEAN project to facilitate trade of fruits and vegetables across borders kicks off

  • Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam face challenges in trading agricultural goods between themselves.
  • Lack of common understanding among border officials about food safety regulations and phytosanitary measures is identified as a top priority.
  • Capacity building is needed for border officials to help facilitate trade among the three countries.
READ MORE
ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN SAS)
The world is beautiful. Let’s keep it that way

  • Everybody’s involvement is crucial in making agrifood systems sustainable.
READ MORE
ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN SAS)
Completing the Better Rice Initiative Asia or BRIA

  • BRIA, a public-private partnership project, was completed in November 2017.
  • More than 20,000 farmers were trained by BRIA in four countries between 2014 and 2017.
  • Recommended farming practices have raised the incomes of participating farmers by approximately 10-25%.
READ MORE
Better Rice Initiative Asia (BRIA): High-Quality Rice for Southeast Asia
Pilot-testing of the SRP standard contributes result in sustainable rice production in Southeast Asia

  • BRIA’s pilot-testing on the SRP standard through public-private-partnership approach is shared at the 2017 Sustainable Rice Conference and Exhibition.
  • The SRP standard can serve as a benchmark for improving the national Good Agricultural Practice (GAP).
  • Benefits for farmers include higher farm income through efficient input management, improved product quality and better market linkages.
READ MORE
Better Rice Initiative Asia (BRIA): High-Quality Rice for Southeast Asia

Energy

USAID and GIZ launch guidelines and tools to mainstream solar energy further

  • The PV rooftop guidelines facilitate the PV rooftop market with step-by-step implementation.
  • The guidelines will help reduce the problems and obstacles in investing in the solar PV rooftop, resulting in an increase in solar PV rooftop deployment in Thailand and other countries in the region.
  • It will also be a model of solar PV rooftop development in Thailand.
READ MORE
Renewable Energy Project Development Programme (PDP) in South-East Asia

Urban & Industrial Development

Sustainable solutions for Asian cities through innovative and integrated resource management

  • UNESCAP, ICLEI and GIZ Nexus co-organise a session on “Sustainable Solutions for Asian Cities through Innovative and Integrated Resource Management” as part of the 2017 CityNet Congress.
  • More than 30 GIZ Nexus initiatives have been elaborated, amounting to an investment volume of more than USD 300 million.
  • Empowering local administrations and the creation of enabling framework conditions to adopt and implement integrated, holistic approaches must also be emphasised.
READ MORE
Integrated Resource Management in Asian Cities: the Urban NEXUS

Others

Fat no more: The choice is yours

  • Low-income people can be vulnerable to obesity. With lack of access to hygienic, sanitary, and healthy foods, they fall victim to nutrient deficiencies and diet-related chronic diseases.
  • Even though health and organic foods are a rising trend, they are typically 20 to 100 percent more expensive than their conventional counterparts.
READ MORE

Digitalisation at the heart of Bangkok conference

  • The Sector Network Joint Conference of SNRD Asia and TUEWAS will be held on 14-18 May, 2018 in Bangkok.
  • In-depth discussions on how to best leverage the potential as yet unleashed by the digital phenomenon will be an integral part of the conference.
READ MORE
The Sector Network Natural Resources and Rural Development Asia and The Sector Network Transport, Environment, Energy and Water in Asia
 
GAME OF THIS ISSUE!
 
 
 
UPCOMING TRAINING COURSES

26 FEB - 2 MAR 2018

Effective Meeting/Workshop Design and Moderation Techniques

5-9 MAR 2018

Monitoring Results and Evaluation: Advance Training (RBME)

19-23 MAR 2018

Effective Communication and PR for Development Cooperation: How to utilize media and increase project visibility and outreach