The Government of Japan recently approved a contribution in the amount of US$ 113,545 to AIT for fiscal year 2007 for scholarships (US$ 81,307) and Gender and Development Studies (US$ 32,238). The approval was disclosed at the meeting on 2 February 2007 between AIT delegation, led by Prof. Said Irandoust, AIT President, with Mr. Diasuke Okabe, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan, Thailand, to continue and support thhe Government of Japan’s collaboration with AIT. Also attending the meeting were Prof. Vilas Wuwongse, Vice President for External Relations; Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe, Japanese Faculty Representative; and Dr. Lal Samarakoon. Mr. Mikiya Saito and Ms. Akemi Inou, Assistant Resident Representatives, JICA Thailand also joined in the meeting.
After April this year, the support of the Government of Japan to AIT, through JICA, in the form of faculty secondment will no longer be continued. This is due largely to the recent legal and organizational changes of JICA which would not allow JICA to dispatch experts to any international organizations. AIT is the last organization where JICA experts are seconded. AIT President expressed deep gratitude to the Government of Japan for its support through faculty secondment for more than 30 years which have greatly assisted and contributed in AIT's development work in the region.
The Government of Japan wishes to continue engaging AIT, as a partner in regional development cooperation, through other innovative forms of collaboration (joint research and projects) and as a tool for their developmental efforts in the region.
JICA will be holding a meeting with ASEAN government representatives in Singapore in June 2007 to assess the development needs of the ASEAN countries and the possibility of AIT being invited as observer will be explored. An AIT proposal outlining ways in which it could work with various ASEAN governments and JICA for the development of the ASEAN region will also be prepared and, if possible, will be submitted in June meeting for consideration.