Professor Said Irandoust (left), AIT President and H.E. Mr. Makhtumkuli Akmuradov
H.E. Mr. Makhtumkuli Akmuradov visits AIT
H.E Mr. Makhtumkuli Akmuradov, Minister of Nature Protection, Turkmenistan and the Chair of Interstate Sustainable Development Commission (ISDC) for Central Asia on 26 Sept. visited AIT. During his visit, he met with Prof Said Irandoust, AIT President; Mr. Surendra Shrestha, Regional Director, UNEP and Ms. Saule Yessimova, Environmental Affairs Officer, Head of Central Asia Component, UNEP/ROAP. Prof. Sudip K Rakshit, Vice President - Research; Prof. Chongkrak, Dean SERD; Ms. Kanya Worawichawong, Corporate Relations Coordinator; Mr. A. Gargabite Benjamin, Director of Admission & Scholarships and Mr. Tenzin Rabgyal, Program Officer, Office of the President also joined the meeting.
The visit explored on the possibility of partnership between AIT and the Ministry of Nature Protection, Turkmenistan.
From left, Prof. Sudip K. Rakshit, Vice President - Research, Mr. Surendra Shrestha, Regional Director, UNEP Prof. Said Irandoust, AIT President, H. E. Mr. Makhtumkuli Akmuradov, Minister of Nature Protection, Ms Saule Yessimova, UNEP/ROAP and Prof. Chongrak Polprasert, DEAN/SERD
Prof. Said Irandoust expressed his deep appreciation to H.E. Min. Akmuradov for coming to AIT amidst his tight meeting schedules in Bangkok and also expressed his gratitude to the Regional Director of UNEP Mr. Surendra Shrestha, AIT alumnus, for his leadership and UNEP's efforts in the development of the Central Asian country and for his important lead role in connecting AIT with Central Asia.
Prof. Irandoust mentioned that Central Asia is one of the focus areas to strengthen further collaboration in line with the AIT mission and long term strategy. He has informed H.E. Minister Akmuradov that AIT has the relevant expertise which can build strategic partnerships along with Turkmenistan's focal strategic direction for the country development policy: Food Security, Social Security, and Environmental Protection.
H.E. Minister Akmuradov was given a tour of facilities in the School of Environment, Resources and Development. Dr Weerakorn Ongsakul, Coordinator of Energy Program gave a brief about the Energy Park and it's relevance to the region and potential of energy related research projects of AIT to the Central Asian Countries.
H.E. Minister Akmuradov also visited the Hatchery Facilities of the Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Field of Study where he was briefed technical knowledge and skills on the spawning and larval rearing of marine and the fresh water fishes. He likewise visited the Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology to learn about the use of micro-organisms and enzymes in the processing of agricultural crops, food and feed technology, as well as in the application of biopolymers in industrial products and the deployment of new technologies in a member of other fields.
The Minister expressed strong interest in the Aquatic Resources Planning and Management, Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology, Environment and Energy program (Solar or Renewable Energy, Wind Energy), Environmental Engineering and Management and Natural Resources Management. The Minister has mentioned that currently these Fields of Study are very much related to the development of Turkmenistan and Central Asia.
The Minister expressed his appreciation of being welcomed to AIT, and expressed strong interest in promoting AIT in Central Asian Countries, with the help of other Ministries from his neighboring countries. The Minister invited President Said Irandoust to attend the next meeting of ISDC in Ashgabad, Turkmenistan to further discuss ways to explore partnership with AIT, particularly in research and other academic activities.
AIT President Irandoust pins a lapel with an AIT flag of AIT to H.E. Mr. Makhtumkuli Akmuradov, Minister as a token of AIT's friendship with Turkmenistan.
Notes:
Turkmenistan is located in Central Asia and was a former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). It achieved its independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. It has borders with Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and has a coastline on the Caspian Sea.