Excellencies,
Khun Chaowalit Ekabut,
Distinguished Guests,
Students,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you very much for your kind word.? First of all, let me extend my sincere thanks to SCG Group in the Philippines for inviting me to join this special occasion.? It is my great pleasure to witness the Ceremonial Check Turn-Over of the ?SCG Sharing the Dream? Scholarship Program this morning. This event only reflects a small part of series of the Siam Cement Group?s continuous effort to sustainably ?return the benefit to the society and community in the Philippine?. SCG, Thailand?s one of the largest business conglomerate, is well known not only in its successful practice of good corporate governance but also in its commitment to a corporate social responsibility.? I am very happy to learn that the SCG has not only applied this commendable practice at home, but also extended its approach to all of its investments overseas, including here in the Philippines.

I would like to commend the SCG?s initiative in prioritizing the promotion of human development in its social responsibility projects. Especially, its various scholarship programs aiming at providing better access to education for less privileged students, as education and training can serve as means and ways to empower people in the fight against poverty. I am very happy to learn that not only 200 incoming second year high school students from urban poor households in Batangas, Bulacan and Metro Manila who present here today benefit from SCG?s support.? But also a number of Filipinos who received and will receive educational assistance from various SCG?s educational programs, include a donation of TV Satellite to elementary school in Calumpit, Bulacan earlier this year. Moreover, the SCG Foundation also provides scholarships for Master Level to study Master?s Degree in Manufacturing System at Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology and Master of Arts Program in International Development Studies at Chulalongkorn University. ?

Looking at a bigger picture, the Royal Thai Government also continues to give priority to ?Education for All? since it believe that human resource development is fundamental for social and economic improvement worldwide. With realization of human resources development, the Royal Thai Government is determined to cooperate with our friendly neighboring countries in enhancing educational cooperation.

For several years, Thailand has offered various kinds of scholarships to many developing countries including the Philippines. The programs cover various development areas ranging from health care, environment, trade and investment, tourism to education. ?

As part of these efforts, the Royal Thai Embassy in cooperation with SCG Group share the vision of promoting a better access to education, particularly for the less-privileged Filipinos. This endeavor was made possible by the support of the Philippine community.

For example, in 2005 and 2006, the Embassy donated 100,000 pesos to the Munting Kalinga Foundation, Inc. (MKFI) for training facilities and materials for special children and supported the MKFI?s Ongoing Educational Assistance Project to 20 scholars to give assistance in completing their studies for the school year 2006-2007.? In 2006, the Embassy has undertaken the renovation and reconstruction of the Sucat Day Care Center, the project cost 600,000 pesos for the benefit of the pre-school children in Muntinlupa. And last year, we provided undergraduate scholarships to 4 students under the Pathways to Higher Education Program of the Ateneo de Manila University (Ateneo-Pathways).

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In this context, continuous efforts as well as active participation from all the parties concerned are needed. It is my pleasure to learn that SCG has enjoyed its partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in implementing this meaningful program. I am confident that with a good partnership and networking more initiatives of these efforts will be implemented in the year to come.

As synergies among all stakeholders in education concerned is one of the key features that can lead to sustainable development, I am very pleased to see all gathering among us today, the local government, teachers, parents, donors and students, present here today to witness important step for the selected 200 second year high school students from Batangas, Bulacan and Metro Manila where each SCG affiliate company operates.

Let me now congratulate all of the students as well as their families who received a unique opportunity from SCG today. I do hope that the momentum brought today will create a better understanding and more cooperation between the Thai and Philippine Community.

Thank you very much.