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The second reason to say yes to the invitation is the fact that since
I arrived in Thailand six months ago to take on this new appointment as Resident
Representative of UNDP, the issue of inequalities and democracy have been on my
agenda almost every day, one way or another. I recall how in early December of
last year, as I was coming through Bangkok for a short mission, I saw the Bangkok
Post publish a much talked about article, building on data presented by the Swiss
Bank Credit Suisse, on how Thailand had become the most unequal country in
the world. The headline was that 1% of the richest Thais controlled close to 67%
of the country’s wealth, the highest percentage compared to any other country in
the world. And even if several voices criticized and opposed this analysis, inequality
has become a major issue in Thailand.

Democracy also came in strong immediately upon my arrival as my landing in
Suvarnabhumi airport coincided with the national elections of April 2019. These
elections, the first after the 2014 coup have allowed Thailand to resume the
practice of democracy as expressed by the freedom to vote and the re-
establishment of an elected Parliament. Your invitation for UNDP to address these
two issues and discuss their relationship is therefore an opportunity for my
organization, but also for me at a more personal level, not only to reflect on how
inter-related they are but also to think of the type of policies and interventions that
would be required in Thailand to reduce inequalities and strengthen democracy.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Raising these questions and placing them
at the heart of UNDP’s work is further justified as we have here a very strong
convergence of a national vision formulated by Thailand for its own development
and a commitment and endorsement by Thailand to an international development
framework. Allow me to clarify. On one hand, Thailand’s 20-year development
strategy with a vision of achieving Stability, Prosperity and Sustainability has
adopted the reduction of inequalities as one of its six strategies, under Strategy
number 4 entitled “Broadening opportunity and equality in Society”. And if
democracy is not explicitly mentioned in this strategy, the principles of people
Keynote Speaker objectives of the 20-year vision. On the other hand, and at the global level, the
empowerment and improved government are very much highlighted as means and

Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals endorsed by all United
Nations Member states including Thailand in 2015 clearly acknowledge both
inequalities as a major challenge and democracy as a clear objective. Paragraphs 3
and 4 of the introduction of the official declaration for Agenda 2030 states, and I
quote: “We resolve, between now and 2030, to end poverty and hunger
everywhere; to combat inequalities within and among countries; to build peaceful,
just and inclusive societies; to protect human rights and promote gender equality