On 23 March 2026, Ms. Suchada Maktara, Deputy Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs, delivered opening remarks at the “Expert Capacity Building for the Implementation of the Regional Action Plan-Thematic Pillar 1: Health and Well-being” Meeting and Workshop, organised by the ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI). Over 45 participants from geriatric experts from ASEAN Member States, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Asian Development Bank, the ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare, and the World Health Organization attended the workshop.

The Deputy Director-General reiterated the importance of the challenges due to ageing and demographic shifts that require an integrated approach and collaboration to address. She also reaffirmed the Ministry’s continued support to facilitate ACAI’s missions in advancing ASEAN’s active ageing policies. The meeting discussed the implementation of the Regional Action Plan on Active Ageing for ASEAN. Key objectives are the ASEAN Regional Standard Structure for Long-Term Care, the ASEAN Regional Standard Structure for Caregiver Training, and Conceptual approaches to operationalising the World Health Organization’s Integrated Care for Older People framework within the ASEAN context.

Dr. Somsak Akksilp, Executive Director of ACAI, stated that the workshop was a follow-up to the event, “From Evidence to Action: Advancing Regional Strategies for Active Ageing,” hosted by ACAI in January 2026. He also expressed appreciation and readiness to work with partners, especially Japan - ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), JICA, the Government of Thailand, ASEAN Member States to realise ACAI’s missions in achieving active ageing in ASEAN.

ACAI was launched in November 2019 during Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship and officially established in 2020 to promote active ageing for older persons in ASEAN. The Centre is located at the Ministry of Public Health in Nonthaburi Province.