Queen's University, through the John Deutsch Institute for the Study of Economic Policy (JDI), has been Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI)'s Canadian partner, responsible for managing CIDA's assistance program to TDRI. CIDA's aid has included: a) direct overhead support for basic TDRI operating expenditures, b) funding of strategic research studies, c) scholarships for PhD studies and other training opportunities in Canada, d) institutional support for library, information and computer systems, and e) promotion of collaborative linkages between TDRI and the research communities in Canada and the region. The project was successfully completed in November, 1997.
Canadian researchers participated in forty seven research projects. Fifty Canadian research advisors were funded in support of research at TDRI. Twenty one TDRI researchers visited Canada on collaboration missions. Sixteen major joint conferences, seminars and workshops were conducted. Ten Canadian project interns worked with TDRI. Five TDRI researchers are undertaking PhD studies in Canada. Results of collaborative and project-sponsored research were disseminated through fifty three publications as well as press coverage, films and TV documentaries. Linkages with Canada under the Project have contributed to TDRI's research capabilities and to the quality of its research. They have increased Canadian knowledge of Thailand and the region. They have enhanced Canadian researchers' interest in, awareness of, and capacity for policy research in this important part of the world.
Adjustment to globalization of world markets
Agricultural diversification
Biodiversity management
Competition and deregulation
Environmental policies
Exports
Financial sector regulation
Fiscal Policy
Fish, Fish Products and the GATT
Future of Thai workers
Geographic information systems
Governance and corruption
Industrial policies
Investment incentives
Labor markets
Local government and decentralization
Municipal finance
Management of commercial policies
Natural resources
Public service renewal
Regional development
Regional economic integration
Rural credit
Social policies
Social security reform
Taxation
Telecommunications
Trade and commercial policies
Transportation
Traffic safety and congestion
Uruguay Round
Water resource conflict
Work in most of these areas resulted in submission of reports of detailed research results and policy recommendations to relevant government departments and agencies. In addition, results and recommendations were disseminated by a variety of other means, including TDRI research publications, conferences and workshops, press releases, television reports and documentaries, TDRI White Papers, and shorter articles in the TDRI Quarterly Review.