Mr. Peerapan Kothong, Secretary-General of the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) and Chairman of the Agricultural Production Restructuring Fund Management Committee, revealed that the FTA Fund is a crucial mechanism for assisting farmers, farmer groups, and agricultural institutions affected by trade liberalization. The fund enables them to restructure production, increase efficiency, reduce costs, improve product quality, and create added value, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the Thai agricultural sector in line with the changing global economic and trade context. In fiscal year 2026, the Office of Agricultural Economics organized a workshop on “Preparing Project Proposals for FTA Fund Funding (Advanced Level) with MOU-Driven Advanced Project” from June 17-19, 2026, at the Grand Richmond Hotel in Nonthaburi Province. The workshop aimed to leverage the knowledge of 14 MOU partner organizations to nurture and develop 13 project proposals. These projects aim to address problems, develop potential, support, and create a competitive advantage for Thai agricultural products in free trade markets, as well as enhance the capabilities of farmers and agricultural institutions. The training aimed to empower partner agencies to prepare high-quality project proposals ready for the FTA fund application process. Mr. Krongsak Songraksa, Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), presided over the opening ceremony.

Mr. Krongsak Songraksa stated that the "Advanced FTA Fund Proposal Preparation Course: MOU-Driven Advanced Project" was attended by 70 participants, including officials from MOU partner agencies and related organizations, as well as farmers and agricultural institutions who had already completed FTA fund training courses. Over the three-day course, participants received enhanced theoretical and practical knowledge covering FTA fund application criteria and procedures, the role of MOU partner agencies as mentors, project cost-benefit analysis, risk management, business plan development, cost management, liquidity, and understanding the global trade context under FTAs.

A key highlight of the training was the Project Matching activity, which paired promising projects with farmers, agricultural institutions, and partner agencies. This facilitated feedback, development, and improvement of project proposals to ensure clarity, completeness, and compliance with FTA criteria. Additionally, there were group practical exercises and project presentations with close guidance and feedback from experts. To ensure the project's practical readiness,

thirteen projects were selected to undergo capacity building and matching with partner organizations. These projects cover 11 types of agricultural products, encompassing food and protein products, cash crops and endemic plants, rice and organic farming, and safe and environmentally friendly agriculture. Examples include smart duckweed eggs, high-quality beef cattle, onions, bio-fertilizers, low-carbon premium longan, organic rice, coffee, soybeans, safe vegetables, and reduced greenhouse gas emission palm oil. This reflects the potential of farmers and agricultural institutions to adapt to commercial competition and further develop value-added agricultural products.

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