TDRI was established by the initiative of the
National Economic and Social Development Board as a public policy research institute in 1984 with the intention of creating a research agency that is independent from the government and bureaucracy. Thai Prime Minister General
Prem Tinsulanonda and Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau of Canada therefore signed an agreement to provide assistance granting funds through the
Canadian International Development Agency to establish the institution. In addition, the
United States Agency for International Development also provided funding for the establishment along with other private companies such as
Mitsui Group and
Unocal Corporation. It is a private non-profit foundation and it provides technical analysis (mostly in economic areas) to various public agencies to help formulate policies to support long-term economic and social development in Thailand. Its current income is mostly derived from government contracts and funding from international organizations. ==Mission==