EEC convenes conference on Water Management in the Eastern Region
EECO convenes conference on Water Management in the Eastern Region with the Snoh Unakul Foundation, Burapha University and partners
The Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) is collaborating with the Snoh Unakul Foundation, Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) and the Sustainable Development and Sufficiency Economy Studies Center of the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) to organize the 2024 State of the Eastern Region Conference on the topic “Water Management and the Ecology of the Eastern Region” on Tuesday, 20 February 2024 from 13:30-17:00 at the Thamrong Buasri Auditorium at Burapha University, Bangsaen, Chonburi Province.
Mr Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairman of the Snoh Unakul Foundation, will chair the meeting. Mr Chula Sukmanop, Secretary-General of the EECO, will deliver the opening keynote. Mr Watcharin Gasaluck, President of Burapha University, will offer welcome remarks. Speakers include Dr Nipon Poapongsakorn (TDRI), Dr Priyanut Dharmapiya (Board member of the Snoh Unakul Foundation), Kandasri Limpakom (Deputy Executive Director of GISTDA) and Somchai Wangwattanapanich (President of the Water and Environment Institute for Sustainability, Federation of Thai Industries). Dr Somkiat Tangkitvanich (President of TDRI) will moderate the proceedings.
Mr Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairman of the Snoh Unakul Foundation, explains that the 2024 State of the Region Conference aims to create a platform for exchanging knowledge among different sectors related to water management to ensure the sustainability of water resources, both in quantitative and qualitative terms. The event will enhance collaboration among the public sector, local administrative organizations, private sector, industry, civil society, educational institutions and youth. The Conference will unveil the findings and recommendations from the Eastern Region Sustainable Development Report regarding water management. The Report was initiated by the Foundation to monitor the development of the eastern region in Thailand within a sustainable development framework. It presents a Dashboard that monitors change in terms of the environment, economy and society, as well as results from a public survey of local people in the region.
The keynote of Mr Chula Sukmanop, Secretary-General of the EECO, will focus on “Managing the distinctiveness of the EEC to optimize opportunities in the special economic zone”.
It will explain the mechanisms for driving investment and management in the EEC, particularly promoting investment in special target industries. This includes establishing economic promotion zones and strengthening transportation infrastructure. Water management initiatives in the EEC will also be presented. The Secretary-General will highlight benefits and measures to facilitate investors that the EECO has been providing since 1 January 2024. He will emphasize advancing development in the special economic zone according to The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Development Plan (2023 – 2027).
The Conference features case studies on mobilizing technology and people power in water management. This includes the Actionable Intelligence Policy (AIP) platform developed by GISTDA to support an evidence-based approach to managing water in the EEC. It will also showcase Ban Mabchan in Rayong province which demonstrates robust local capacity for self-managing water resources, which shows the viability of alternative approaches for addressing challenges related to water management in the region.
The roundtable discussion on “Water management in the eastern region”, moderated by Dr Somkiat Tangkitvanich (President of TDRI) will deep dive into the recommendations from the Report. Representatives from the public sector, experts and water user organizations, notably the private sector, will share their reflections on the recommendations. This will include TDRI, GISTDA, the Office of the National Water Resources and the Water and Environment Institute for Sustainability, Federation of Thai Industries.
The Report presents four major recommendations regarding water resources management in the eastern region, emphasizing an approach that is well-balanced, efficient, and just for diverse users of water. This includes: (1) Shift the public sector’s focus from continuously increasing water supply to developing an efficient system for managing both water demand and supply, (2) Strengthen local capacity by enhancing human resources, knowledge and skills for water user organizations at all levels, including community leaders, (3) Implement an Integrated Area-based Water Resource Management (IWRM) system, which could be tested using the EEC as a sandbox, (4) Develop climate mitigation and adaptation plans to address climate change impacts and disasters in the EEC and the eastern coast of Thailand.
