Global Water Partnership lauds AIT

Global Water Partnership lauds AIT

From left: Prof. Sudip K Rakshit, Dr. Le Vanh Minh, and Dr. Mukand Singh Babel.

The steering committee of the Global Water Partnership South East Asia ( GWP SEA) lauded the role of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and sought to strengthen its partnership with the Institute. The steering committee along with representatives of the Thai Water Partnership (TWP) visited AIT on 20 September 2011 to acquaint themselves with new developments at AIT, particularly the activities in the water sector.

Dr. Mercy Dikito Wachtmeister, Senior Network Officer, Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO), Stockholm, Sweden, stated that they were interested in the work being done at AIT in the water sector. “AIT has enhanced our networking capacity in this region,” Dr. Mercy said.Dr. Le Vanh Minh, Chairman of GWP SEA stated that their organization consists of two representatives from nine countries in South-East Asia. “We have over 240 partners in the region and our aim is promotion of integrated water resource management,” he added. Dr. Vinh was accompanied by Ms. Rini Natalia, program coordinator, GWP SEA
Secretariat.

Welcoming the delegates Prof. Sudip Kumar Rakshit, Vice President for Research, AIT said that one of the first programs offered at AIT was in the field of hydraulic engineering. Dr. Mukand Singh Babel, Director, Asian Water Research and Education (AWARE) introduced the range of activities planned at the Center.

The delegation included GWP SEA representatives from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Three representatives from Thai Water Partnership also participated in the meeting.

Others who attended the meeting included Prof. Asim Das Gupta, Professor Emeritus, AIT; Dr.Weerakorn Ongsakul, Dean, School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD); Dr. Sandro Calvani, Director, Director of the ASEAN Regional Centre of Excellence on Millennium Development Goals (ARCMDG); Dr. Riaz Rahman Khan, Director, Yunus Center at AIT; Ms. Leena Wokeck, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility Asia Center at AIT; and Hans Joakim Guttman, Coordinator, Wetland Alliance Programme (WAP).