Global Islamic banking assets are set to reach 1 trillion USD in the year 2012. Although this remains a small proportion of global banking, there are positive developments in Islamic finance in countries like the United Kingdom, France, Germany and France. This was stated by Dr. Mohammad Akram Laldin of the International Shari’ah Research Academy for Islamic Finance (ISRA), Malaysia, while delivering a talk on ‘The value proposition of Islamic finance and the misconception about it’ on 21 June 2012 at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).

National Institute of Technology (NIT), Sikkim, India, wishes to engage with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and wants to partner in student exchange, faculty exchange, besides joint and dual degree programs. This sentiment was expressed by Prof. Arun Samaddar, Director, NIT during a visit to the AIT on 19 June 2012.

Dr. Mokbul Morshed Ahmad, Associate Professor in AIT’s School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) has contributed a book chapter titled “Roots of Funding, Roots of Trust: The Struggle for Survival and credibility among the Religious NGOs in Bangladesh” in the forthcoming book “Financial Cooperatives and Local Development.”

A four-member strong delegation representing the education sector from Guangdong province, People’s Republic of China (PRC), offered a tie-up with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) stating that the education requirements of Guangdong are immense, and that AIT is ideally placed to benefit from the opportunity. The delegation expressed their desire to launch joint, dual-degree and unified programs at Bachelor’s and Master’s level between AIT and universities in Guangdong.

AIT alumnus and former President of AIT Alumni Association (AITAA) Mother Chapter, Mr. Chaovalit Ekabut (has been selected as the best Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in Thailand. Mr. Chaovalit received his Master’s degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME) in 1982.

AIT alumnus and former President of AIT Alumni Association (AITAA) Mother Chapter, Mr. Chaovalit Ekabut (has been selected as the best Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in Thailand. Mr. Chaovalit received his Master’s degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME) in 1982.

Led by its president, a delegation from Saigon Hi-Tech Park, Vietnam has sought closer ties with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). During a visit to the Institute on 12 June 2012, the delegation sought to partner with AIT and made detailed inquiries about the centers of excellence currently hosted in the Institute.

Rapid urbanization in Vietnam has increased pressure on government authorities to improve urban planning for the welfare of city-dwellers. With cities such as Hanoi, Danang, Can Tho, and Ho Chi Minh growing at rapid pace, a recent seminar co-organized by AIT highlighted the need for more highly qualified urban management professionals across Vietnam.

Socialist Republic of Viet Nam has become the eighth country to join the Council of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). According to an official communication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Royal Thai Government, the AIT Charter comes into force for Vietnam on 8 June 2012.

Sri Lanka President H.E. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa has expressed interest on the status of AIT’s plans to open a branch campus in his country.