Thailand is one of the five founding members of Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) in 1967. Thailand has played a significant role in promoting projects and connectivity of ASEAN community since its establishment. Besides, Thailand has played an important role in facilitating cooperation with ASEAN member states, and supporting cooperation between ASEAN, external relations and other non-ASEAN countries. Thailand also played a significant role in prioritized projects of ASEAN including supporting the establishment of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), encouraging peaceful conflict settlement, and assisting the connectivity of ASEAN in educational, social and cultural sectors.
Department of Local Administration contains missions to support and assist local administrative organizations in developing their development plans, human resources management, and finance in order to strengthen the abilities of local administrative organizations in providing public services regarding to ASEAN community. Notwithstanding, Department of Local Administration has plans and policies on foreign affairs including raising awareness in becoming ASEAN community, exchanging knowledge with international organizations, and developing skills and abilities of government officers such as language and communication skills in order to fully utilize benefits from becoming ASEAN community.
Local Administrative Organizations, as organizations which work closely with the people, have prepared for the challenges from becoming ASEAN community, especially for the duties in relation with ASEAN three main pillars such as developing grassroots economics and local infrastructures, providing safety of life and property, managing pollutions and recovering environment.
