On October 3, 2023, the Center on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) held a ceremony to award the Aziz-Ul Haq Rural Development Medal for the year 2022-2023. The International Trade and Development (ITD) organization was selected by the committee to receive this award. ITD was recognized for its role in promoting and elevating trade and development initiatives at both regional and sub-regional levels in Asia-Pacific. This includes contributions in formulating national-level strategies, enhancing human resources through training, and fostering international collaboration, all of which play a crucial role in supporting CIRDAP’s mission of regional development in Asia-Pacific.

Mr. Wimol Pankong, the Director of the Development and Research Promotion Division, accepted the Aziz-Ul Haq Rural Development Medal on behalf of ITD. He expressed gratitude to CIRDAP for acknowledging ITD’s contributions over the past 23 years. He emphasized that the award belongs not only to ITD but also to ITD’s network of partner organizations both within Thailand and internationally. These partners include the Ministry of Commerce, research-affiliated universities, private sector entities that collaborate on training and seminars, and international organizations such as UNCTAD and UNESCAP. He further highlighted that collaboration among these networks in Asia-Pacific in the realms of trade and development is key to sustaining and improving the quality of life and society in the region.

The Aziz-Ul Haq Rural Development Medal was established to honor Aziz-Ul Haq, a renowned expert and policy influencer in rural development for the marginalized. He was also the founder of CIRDAP. The award’s purpose is to recognize organizations that contribute significantly to the development of Asia-Pacific. This year’s award ceremony took place in Luang Prabang, Laos, and was presented to organizations from Myanmar, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Thailand. ITD is the only Thai organization to receive this prestigious award in 2023.