Top photo: The Ambassadors of Belgium, Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, the Philippines, Sweden, and Türkiye with Chiang Rai Governor Putipong Sirimatya
Bottom photo: H. E. Mrs. Shirley Dennise Aguilar Barrera of Guatemala, H.E. Ana Maria Prieto Abad of Colombia, H.E. Ms. Itzel Karina Chen Chan of Panama, H.E. Millicent Cruz Paredes of the Philippines, Chiang Mai Governor Nirat Phongsittithaworn, H.E. Sibille de Cartier d'Yves of Belgium, H.E. Mrs. Anna Hammargren of Sweden, and H.E. Mrs. Serap Ersoy of Türkiye
Bangkok, 26 December 2023 - The Ambassadors of Belgium, Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, the Philippines, Sweden, and Türkiye, representing the tight-knit group of 13 women Ambassadors who are accredited to the Kingdom of Thailand, held a working visit to Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in northern Thailand on 29 November - 02 December 2023.
The Ambassadors, namely H.E. Sibille de Cartier d'Yves of Belgium, H.E. Ana Maria Prieto Abad of Colombia, H.E. Ms. Itzel Karina Chen Chan of Panama, H.E. Millicent Cruz Paredes of the Philippines, H.E. Mrs. Serap Ersoy of Türkiye, H.E. Mrs. Shirley Dennise Aguilar Barrera of Guatemala, and H.E. Mrs. Anna Hammargren of Sweden, joined together to shine a light on women in leadership and diplomacy in their series of meetings with Royal Thai Government authorities, civil society organizations, youth, and academe.
Organized by the Embassy of the Philippines in Bangkok and led by Ambassador Paredes, the working visit began in Chiang Rai with a courtesy call on Governor Putipong Sirimatya. The Ambassadors congratulated the Governor on Chiang Mai’s inclusion in the UNESCO Creative City Network, bringing global acclaim and creating opportunities for the province and Thailand’s Northern Economic Corridor.
The Ambassadors at the wreath-laying ceremony in honor of HRH Princess Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother, at Mae Fah Luang University
The Ambassadors on the guided tour of Mae Fah Luang University, led by University President Asst. Prof. Matchima Naradisorn, Ph.D. and Vice President Prof.Dr.Sujitra Wongkasemjit
The seven women Ambassadors also had the opportunity to see firsthand Chiang Rai’s sustainable economy, local community development, and rich art and cultural heritage at the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, and Doi Tung Development Project – both managed by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage. The Ambassadors were also warmly welcomed by the Mae Fah Luang University faculty, staff, and students and treated to a campus tour and lecture.
In Chiang Mai, people-to-people engagement and partnerships were at the forefront of the Ambassadors’ visit to the Chiang Mai Women’s Correctional Institution and its Vocational Training Center, and meetings with civil society organizations.
The Ambassadors also paid a courtesy call on Chiang Mai Governor Nirat Phongsittithaworn, with whom they discussed tourism, the environment, and local government-embassy cooperation to ensure the well-being of the respective expatriate communities and foreign tourists.
The Ambassadors at the Chiang Mai Women Correctional Institution led by Director Sunanta Kongpakpian
The Ambassadors’ visit of the Vocational Training Center (bottom), watching a cultural performance by women inmates (top)
Threading the three-day visit to Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai was the Ambassadors’ desire to meet and learn from all sectors of Thai society, especially the local communities. As women in diplomacy and key leadership positions, the Ambassadors valued the personal engagements and stories shared by the Thai people as friends and partners in their diplomatic work in the Kingdom.
Standing together, united in the spirit of womanhood, the Ambassadors of Belgium, Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, the Philippines, Sweden, and Türkiye shared their message of hope and belief in grit, determination, and teamwork with all of whom they were honored to meet. END
Huddle with a Civil Society Organization
The Ambassadors at a Civil Society Organization’s office, learning about the CSO’s work and partnership with Thai Government authorities (photos credit: CSO)
