H.E. Mr. Anand Panyarachun Honored by
His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
H.E. Mr. Jonas Hafström, left, Swedish Ambassador, on behalf of HM King Carl XVI Gustaf, confers the Royal Order of the Polar Star with the degree of Commander Grand Cross to H.E. Mr. Anand Panyarachun at the Swedish Ambassador’s residence. Also in the photo is Lieutenant Colonel Johan Törnqvist, Liaison Officer, Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters, Embassy of Sweden
The Royal Order bestowed by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, was formally presented to H.E. Mr. Anand by Ambassador Hafström during the ceremony. The award is presented by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf in recognition of the dedicated work by H.E. Mr. Anand during his term as Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees, an important institution in which Sweden as a leading donor nation, has great interests. The formal communication from the Government of Sweden to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand notes that the diligence and enterprise demonstrated by H.E. Mr. Anand during his term as Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees, has contributed significantly to the ever improving relations between Sweden and Thailand.
In the investiture speech, H.E. Mr. Jonas Hafström addressed H.E. Mr. Anand – saying: “Your achievements and contributions as ambassador, prime minister and international statesman are well known. I could speak at great length on the importance of your influence on peace, press freedom and democratic development. But that is not why we are here today. Instead, we shall honour your outstanding accomplishments in another – but equally important field – education. His Majesty has made this decision in recognition of your dedicated work as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). As you are well aware, AIT is an academic institution with which Sweden has a long association. AIT is, for us, a very important instrument for regional capacity building and academic excellence, of value not only for Thailand but also for neighbouring countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Sweden, as a leading donor nation, takes pride in AIT’s performance over the last few years.”
H.E. Mr. Anand Panyarachun has also received various Thai Decorations; most recently in 2003 he received the Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn. The Foreign Decorations received by him are from Italy, Republic of Korea, Belgium, Japan; and the most recent in 1996, Honorary Knight Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE), United Kingdom.
H.E. Mr. Anand Panyarachun has had a long association with AIT, going as far back as 1959 when the Institute was first conceived as the SEATO Graduate School of Engineering. In 1990 he was appointed as member of the AIT Board of Trustees and in 2000 elected its Chairman. During his chairmanship the four very important and crucial issues that were addressed are: 1) the amicable resolution of the land lease and forging of closer relations with Thammasat University and the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) 2) placement of AIT under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) as the Institute’s patron and commitment on the part of MOFA in reaffirming AIT’s international status 3) improvements in the financial situation of the Institute, its reporting procedures and introduction of effective control measures 4) and restructuring of the Board and Executive Committee, following which they have been downsized and infused with new blood, with a more empowered and active Executive Committee of the Board.
H.E. Mr. Anand will also be conferred with AIT’s honorary doctorate degree during the Institute’s 108th Graduation Ceremony to be convened in December 2007, in recognition of his outstanding contributions as a diplomat, business executive, constitution writer, and two-time Prime Minister of Thailand.
