Royal Thai Embassy promotes Bio-Circular-Green

The Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo recently organised an online seminar ‘From Sufficiency Economy to Bio-Circular-Green (BCG): A Policy in Practice,’ with participation of the Thai Trade Centre in Chennai, and INSEE Ecocycle Lanka. 

The seminar highlighted BCG as Thailand’s national agenda, adopted with the aim of building a more sustainable and inclusive future. BCG Model is guided by the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, which serves as Thailand’s homegrown development approach that emphasises human empowerment and resilience building. 

Ambassador-Designate Poj Harnpol delivered an opening remark for the seminar, stressing that Thailand sees BCG as a new economic paradigm that strives for a balanced and sustainable growth, and a strategy for post-COVID recovery. 

He pointed out the continuity that the Embassy has placed on promoting economic ties with Sri Lanka through the theme of sustainability, as reflected in the seminars in 2017 and 2019, both of which focused on the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. He also indicated that, with Sri Lanka passing over the Chairmanship of BIMSTEC to Thailand in December of this year, the Thai Government will prioritise BCG as the development agenda under Thailand’s chairmanship of BIMSTEC.

Thai Trade Center in Chennai Director Hataichanok Sivara presented an overview of trade and economic relations between Thailand and Sri Lanka, including trading opportunities in BCG products such as rubber, fish, livestock and other agricultural products. She also highlighted recent activities implemented by the Thai Ministry of Commerce to promote BCG such as smart farmers training by the New Economy Academy, and development of eco-friendly packaging. She suggested that BCG entrepreneur could benefit from future opportunities in Thailand trade exhibits and training projects.

INSEE Ecocycle Lanka Director Sanjeewa Chulakumara gave a detailed presentation of INSEE’s waste management operation in Sri Lanka, which helps to promote industrial symbiosis with environment, and transform Sri Lanka move from a linear economy into a circular economy. He provided details of the recently established Resource Recovery Centre, and the i2i Collaboration space, which serves as a platform for INSEE to engage with universities in Sri Lanka on waste disposal technology.  As INSEE is a division of a Thai company, the operation showcases Thailand’s investment in Sri Lanka in BCG activities.

During panel discussion, the speakers and panellists explore future economic and commercial opportunities between Thailand and Sri Lanka through the implementation of the BCG Model. 

Sri Lanka-Greater Mekong Business Council President S.M.D. Suriyakumara shared his opinion that BCG is not yet perceived as a business in Sri Lanka, and that further awareness building activities are required to convince the business communities to undertake greater investment. 

Sri Lanka-Thailand Business Council President Lalith Kumarage called for greater awareness building among small and medium entrepreneurs, and more capacity building training and knowledge sharing.