News from GMSARN
ASEAN FOUNDATION PROVIDES SUPPORT TO GMSARN
The ASEAN Foundation (Japan-ASEAN Solidarity Fund) gave a grant to the Greater Mekong Subregion Academic and Research Network (GMSARN) to support the Regional Conference on Digital GMS and the Environmental Workshop on GMS Capacity Building for Sustainable Development. The first activity was held on February 26-28, 2003, while the second one will be held on April 3-4, 2003 at AIT.
GMSARN is composed of nine top ranking educational institutions in the Greater Mekong Subregion. The GMSARN Secretariat is based at AIT.
From left to right: Prof. Mario T. Tabucanon, GMSARN Director & AIT Provost; Prof. Jean-Louis Armand, GMSARN Chairman of the Board and AIT President; Dr. Ruben C. Umaly, Executive Director of ASEAN Foundation, and Ms. Teresita M. Padilla, Coordinator, Academic Networking Support, GMSARN Secretariat and Office of the AIT Provost.
Regional Conference on Digital GMS
The Regional Conference on Digital GMS organized by (GMSARN) and the ASEAN Foundation (Japan-ASEAN Solidarity Found) covered the following issues: Remote sensing and GIS applications for sustainable development; Wireless and mobile technology; Internet and information technology for GMS business; and Distributed learning and education.
The keynote speeches on opening day addressed the following issues: ICT for Poverty Reduction by Dr. Thaweesak Koanantakool, Director, NECTEC, Thailand; ICT Development Trends and Needs for Its Further Growth in GMS by Mr. Siva Thampi, Director, Information Communication and Space Technology Division, UN-ESCAP; Participatory GIS for Sustainable Development in DAN (Digital Asia Network) by Prof. Hiromichi Fukui, Chair Professor, Geo-Informatics Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Japan; and Advanced Internet Technology for the Educational Infrastructure by Dr. Keiko Okawa, Director, School of Internet, WIDE Project, Japan.
On the closing day, the keynote speeches were as follows: ASEAN Foundation Projects on ICT and Reduction of the digital Divide in the Region by Dr. Ruben C. Umaly, Executive Director, ASEAN Foundation; GIS Application for Sustainable Development by Mr. Wu Guaoxing, Chair, Space and Technology Section, Information, Communications and Space Technology Division, UN-ESCAP; and
E-Commerce and the Greater Mekong Subregion: Opportunities, Obstacles and Implications for Development by Mr. Will Keenan, UNCTAD Chief Technical Advisor, Pakistan Trade and Transport Facilitation Project.
Prof. Jean-Louis Armand, GMSARN Chairman of the International Board is seen delivering his opening remarks.
Dr. Peter Haddawy, a faculty member of AIT's School of Advanced Technologies chaired the Regional Conference on Digital GMS
GMSARN Council of Advisors Meeting
The GMSARN Council of Advisors (CoA) held its Sixth Meeting on February 26, 2003 at AIT to discuss future work plans and initiatives, as well as preparations for its Joint Meeting with the GMSARN International Board on April 5-6 at Khon Kaen University and the National University of Laos.
Dr. Tong-In Wongsothorn (third form left), CoA Chairman and President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, presided over the meeting. From left: Ms. Teresita M. Padilla, Coordinator, Academic Networking Support; CoA Member Mr. Masato Abe, Economics Affairs Officer, Trade and Investment Division, UN ESCAP; Prof. Mario T. Tabucanon, GMSARN Director and AIT Provost; Dr. Bhanupong Nidhiprabha, GMSARN Co-Director and Vice-Rector of Thammasat University; Dr. Chumnarn Pongsri, Programme Officer, Fisheries Programme, Mekong River Commission; and Prof. Le Cong Hoa, Vice Rector of Hanoi University of Technology.