Thailand aims to reduce HIV prevalence among adults to 1 percent by 2006

Thailand has already met most of the development goals agreed at the U.N. Millennium Summit attended by world leaders four years ago.

In its first Millennium Development Goals Report 2004, Thailand now places the bar much higher by introducing “MDG Plus” targets – a set of new ambitious tailor-made targets for poverty reduction, education, health, gender equality and the environment. Thailand’s Millennium Development Goals Report 2004, jointly published by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) and the United Nations Country Team in Thailand, is a comprehensive assessment of the remarkable progress towards achieving the global development goals, well in advance of schedule. “The report is a powerful account of how Thailand has achieved most of the Millennium Development Goals” says Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in the Foreword of the report.

Poverty has already been reduced by two-third since 1990. The proportion of underweight children has fallen by nearly half. Universal access to primary school education is likely to be achieved within a few years. Malaria is no longer a problem in most of the country. Yearly new HIV infections have been reduced by over 80 percent since 1991, the peak of the epidemic. “The results-based approach to development has been a particularly successful formula for Thailand” says Chakramon Phasukavanich, Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Board.

The report introduces Thailand’s concept of ‘MDG Plus’, targets that move well beyond those agreed by the world community. “The Government has taken a very bold step in developing these new targets” says Robert England, UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand. “It is an indication of the commitment and can-do attitude of the people of Thailand”, he added.

The ambitious MDG Plus targets include:

• Reduce poverty to below four percent by 2009. If successful, this would represent a stunning four fifths reduction since 1990.
• Reduce HIV prevalence among adults to 1 percent by 2006. The current adult prevalence rate is 1.5 percent.
• Achieve universal lower secondary education by 2006 and universal higher secondary education by 2015.
• Double the proportion of women in the national parliament, local government and executive positions in civil service by 2006.
• Reduce by half, between 2005 and 2015, infant and maternal mortality rates in selected Northern provinces and the three southernmost provinces where the rates are higher than the rest of the country.
• Reduce malaria incidence in the 30 border provinces to less than 1.4 per 1,000 by 2006.
• Increase the share of renewable energy in the commercial sector to 8 percent by 2011, a sixteen-fold increase from the current levels.

According to the report, Thailand is also now in a unique position to contribute to the Millennium Development Goal 8 - one that calls on rich countries to increase aid and give poor countries fair access to their markets and technology. “Based on our lessons learnt, we are an important partner for other developing countries, offering development cooperation, opening up our markets and providing much needed foreign direct investment”, adds Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in the Foreword of the report.

The report points to examples where Thailand’s policy of ‘forward engagement’ is reaching beyond its borders: support for democratic governance in Timor-Leste, de-mining activities in Sri Lanka and infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. Furthermore, the report suggests that by improving market access, especially with its least developed neighbours, Thailand is significantly contributing to economic growth and investment that is essential in reaching the Millennium Goals in the poorest countries.