SPGA and Thailand Reinforce Cooperation in Horticulture

January 17th 2025, the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority(SPGA) welcomed a delegation comprising of representatives from the Thailand International Cooperation Agency(TICA), the Botanical Garden Organisation and the Thailand Embassy based in Nairobi, Kenya.

The visit stems from the existing collaboration between SPGA and the Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden in Thailand. As recently as November 2024, 3 staff participated in an Exchange Program in Thailand, whereby they gained advanced knowledge and skills in plant tissue and in-vitro propagation. This expertise will enhance their capacity to propagate endemic plants that are currently challenging to cultivate using conventional methods.

The first leg of the official visit which took place at the SPGA Headquarters at Ile du Port, centred on building on the past Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between the previous Seychelles National Botanical Garden Foundation (NBGF) and the Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden, which was entered into in 2013. With the expiration of the MoU, in addition to the numerous changes which have taken place, both parties remained keen to discuss the possibility of establishing a new arrangement which will bring about enhanced cooperation between Seychelles and Thailand, through exchange visits for respective personnel and cooperation in research programs in the field of horticulture, botany and biodiversity conservation, in addition to support for the construction of a Thai Pavilion

The visit concluded in the National Botanical Garden, whereby Mrs. Pimwadee Sovaratanapong, acting Director General of TICA, handed over 65 orchid specimens of 13 species to CEO Allen Cedras. These orchids will be used to enhance the Thai Garden within the Botanical Garden which was created in 20214, as well as adding to the state of the art Seychelles Orchids Collection Greenhouse at the National Biodiversity Centre, Barbarons.

Mrs. Sovaratanapong shared that the donation of plants further strengthens the existing collaboration between the two countries and organisations in horticulture. “I am confident that the skills, knowledge and connection fostered through this collaboration will continue to flourish”, she highlighted. On his part, Mr. Cedras expressed “the orchids will surely enhance the visibility and beauty of the Thai Garden, in addition to the upcoming Thai Pavilion. We look forward to discussing new avenues for cooperation between our two organisations”.