Prof. Le. Hoai Quoc , President, People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh
City’s Saigon Hi-Tech Park (HTP), expressed interest in education,
research and training opportunities at AIT. The delegation also
inquired about the process of incubation, and industry interaction
being followed by AIT.
The delegation revealed that the Saigon HTP will be celebrating its
tenth anniversary in October 2012. It has acquired an investment
commitment of 2.1 billion USD, and accumulated export revenue of 2.71
billion USD. It hosts 62 projects and the Park has helped in the
creation of 17,500 jobs. The delegation revealed that more than half of
the investment in the Science Park is from Vietnam itself. Prof. Quoc
invited AIT to participate in the tenth anniversary celebrations of the
Park.
Welcoming the delegation Mr. Olivier Drean, Interim-Head, External
Relations and Communications Office (ERCO), provided an overview of AIT
and its activities in Vietnam. Dr. Nitin Kumar Tripathi, Associate
Dean, School of Engineering and Technology (SET), revealed how AIT’s
Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology was working closely with the
Thailand Science Park. He proposed that Saigon HTP could receive AIT
student interns, while experts from Saigon HTP can be engaged as
experts in various research projects at AIT.
Dr. Luong Trung Huynh, Coordinator, of Industrial Management and
Engineering (IME) field of study at AIT’s SET stated that AIT was keen
to work with industry in Vietnam. Dr. Poompat Saengudomlert,
Coordinator, Telecommunications field of study spoke about research
conducted in Telecommunication and Computer Science and Information
Management (CSIM) fields.
Besides the president, the Saigon HTP delegation also included Dr. Sci
Ngo Ke Suong, Chairman, Ho Chi Minh City’s Biological Association; Mr.
Nguyen Hoang Minh, Deputy Director, Department of Planning and
Investment; Mr. Nguyen Anh Thi, Deputy Director, Department of Science
and Technology; Ms. Thao Do of the Department of Investment Promotion
and International Cooperation; and Ms. Bui Duc Nhu Mai of Ho Chi Minh
City Television.
Dr. Hoang Le Tien, Associate Head for Administration and Head, AIT
Alumni Affairs Office; Ms, Tiamkare Thitithamtada, Senior Program
Officer, ERCO; and Ms. Tripti Rajbhandari, Program Officer, SET also
participated in the meeting. The delegation also met Prof. Athapol
Noomhorm and Dr. Anil Kumar Anal of Food Engineering and
Bioprocess Technology (FEBT) field of study and visited the FEBT
facilities.
Later Ho Chi Minh Television interviewed the AIT President Prof. Said
Irandoust about AIT’s vision in Vietnam.
