In response to a request from the Ministry of Interior in Thailand, GRIPS conducted a Thai Executive Training Program on Provincial and Local Administration (PPLA) between July 16 to July 23, 2014. Nine provincial vice-governors of Thailand participated in the program.

The program was coordinated by PPLA Program Director Professor Hirofumi Takada. During the program, the participants had a chance to hear lectures on the Japanese local government system, administrative reforms, local public finance, and regional revitalization policy in Japan, which were given by GRIPS faculty members including Vice-President Professor Kiyotaka Yokomichi, Senior Professor and Director of the Executive Development Center for Global Leadership Masahiro Horie, Professor Hiroshi Ikawa, and Professor Takada, as well as by Professor Fumio Nagai from Osaka City University.

The participants visited the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the National Governors’ Association in Tokyo. They also took a trip to Sapporo, Hakodate, and Aomori. In Aomori Prefecture, they visited the local government office and local industrial organizations and companies, where they learned about local administration reform, agriculture, and fisheries.

On the final day, Professor Takada presided over a summary session. After that, a closing ceremony was held and each participant received a certificate.