Chief Representative of JICA in Thailand, Mr. Hiroo Tanaka stated that
JICA is concentrating on the transportation sector, particularly
on high-speed railways. Stating that Thailand is an equal partner in
international development, Mr. Tanaka remarked that JICA considers
Bangkok to be a crucial hub in the ASEAN region. JICA is inviting
engineers, researchers, policy makers and technocrats from neighbouring
countries to participate in training programs, he added. Mentioning
that JICA has worked with the the Thai Government on various projects,
he added that both AIT and JICA have similar goals and targets and
could work together.
Welcoming the delegation, AIT President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai
recalled the long-standing partnership between JICA and AIT. Stating
that AIT is working on cross border and transboundary issues,
Prof Worsak said: “AIT is in a strong position to assist donors
agencies in implementing their projects.” Many regions in the world
have started looking towards the East, and AIT can act as a Gateway
connecting to the ASEAN region, Prof. Worsak remarked.
Mr. Tanaka was accompanied by Mr. Yojiro Miyashita, Representative
from JICA, and Mr. Masanori Takenaka, Senior Program Officer. AIT was
represented by Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto, Vice President for Administration;
Mr. Surendra Shrestha, Vice President for Development; Dr. Hiroyuki
Konuma, Senior Advisor to the AIT President; Prof. Voratas
Kachitvichyanukul, Dean, School of Engineering and Technology
(SET); Prof. Kyoko Kusakabe of School of Environment,
Resources and Development (SERD); Dr. Teerapat Sanguankotchakorn, Dr.
Djoen San Santoso and Dr. Punchet Thammarak of SET; Dr. Nophea Sasaki
and Dr. Loc Thai Ngueyn of SERD; Dr. Shiro Ochi, Visiting Scientist,
Geoinformatics Center; Dr. Louis Hornyak, Director, Center for
Excellence in Nanotechnology; and Mr. Shawn Kelly, Director, and Ms.
Sumana Shrestha of Office of External Relations (OEXR).
