On 19 February 2025, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kriangkrai Srithanavibunchai, RIHES Director and Asst. Prof. Dr. Surat Hongsibsong, SHSR Head, welcomed Prof. Dr. Yuichiro Amekawa from the College of International Relations, Ritsumeikan University, Japan, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Panamas Triwannakul from Kasetsart University.

The visit is part of an academic collaboration aiming at exchanging knowledge and developing research guidelines on “Changes in Thai agricultural production and market structure under COVID-19 pandemic,” funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), a 4-year study (2023–2026).

Asst. Prof. Dr. Surat Hongsibsong and the research team participated in the field visits to plan on data collection preparation during the Longan plantation season in Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces which are major sources of Longan production in Thailand. This project aims to understand the changing trends in the agricultural sector after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The collaboration marks a significant step in Thai-Japanese research efforts which will not only strengthen knowledge, but also positively impact Thailand’s agricultural sector in the future.