On 19-20 September 2022, AFSIS Secretariat with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan held the Regional Workshop on the Project for Supporting Agricultural Survey on Promoting Sustainable Agriculture in ASEAN Region (SAS-PSA) at Grande Centre Point Hotel Ratchadamri, Bangkok, Thailand.

21 participants from 10 ASEAN Plus Three countries which are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan attended the workshop physically, while 2 participants of Indonesia attended virtually. Moreover, Dr. Apichart Pongsrihadulchai, a project evaluation consultant of the SAS-PSA project attended the workshop physically.

Also, the representatives from the relevant agencies namely the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), and the Office of the Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), Thailand, ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Secretariat, Faculty of Economics from Kasetsart University, EGIS Global Development Cooperation Center, and AFSIS Secretariat had attended the workshop physically. In addition, there were 2 representatives from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) who attended the workshop virtually.

The workshop was also honored by the following distinguished representatives which were Mr. Chantanon Wannakejohn, a Secretary General of OAE from the MOAC of Thailand to deliver the opening remarks and open the event, Mr. Kimura Keitaro, a Director of Statistics Planning Division, Statistics Department from MAFF, Japan to deliver his remarks, Dr. Waraporn Saelee, AFSIS Manager to deliver the welcome remarks and participate in discussion session and wrap-up the regional workshop, and Mr. Vinit Atisook, Deputy Secretary General of OAE to take part in the discussion during the workshop.

The objectives of this workshop are to present the concept of the SAS-PSA project, activities, and overall outcomes as well as relevant knowledge and experiences getting from the project from 3 target countries namely Thailand, Lao PDR, and Cambodia by Mr. Niimi Tomohiro, a Japanese Expert of the SAS-PSA project and 3 national consultants of the target countries.

There was a general discussion session that provide the opportunity for all participants to discuss and exchange their ideas for suggestions and recommendations which will be beneficial for each country to implement a survey on SDG indicator 2.4.1 based on the FAO guideline in the future.

The workshop was successfully ended with great collaboration from all participants and appreciation toward AFSIS Secretariat and MAFF of Japan for organizing the Regional Workshop to strengthening food security information in ASEAN region.