H.E. Ambassador Eksiri Pintaruchi, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand to the OPCW,
THE HAGUE, Netherlands – 23 July 2020 – The Government of Thailand has contributed THB 450,000 to a special Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Trust Fund to support the project to upgrade the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store. This project will result in the construction of a new facility, the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (“ChemTech Centre”).
The contribution was formalised through a signing ceremony with OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, and H.E. Ambassador Eksiri Pintaruchi, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand to the OPCW, held at the OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
Ambassador Pintaruchi remarked: “Thailand is pleased to be part of this important project. This contribution reaffirms our full support to the OPCW in advancing the technical capabilities of Member States and stakeholders. The new centre will not only strengthen the Organisation but also help prepare Member States for further improved and coordinated responses to the current and new challenges posed by chemical weapons.”
The Director-General expressed: “I thank the Government of Thailand for this contribution to the new OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology that will further build the capabilities of our Member States to achieve a world free of chemical weapons. The continued commitment of OPCW Member States to this important project during these unprecedented times is especially meaningful.”
Director-General Arias appealed to all OPCW Member States in a position to make voluntary contributions to do so. He further emphasised the important role the new ChemTech Centre will play in strengthening the OPCW’s ability to address chemical weapon threats and enhance capacity building activities. He highlighted that “all contributions, regardless of size, are greatly appreciated”.
So far, forty-three Member States and the European Union have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the ChemTech Centre project, and a considerable amount has been raised to date.
