Bangkok--13 Dec--AIT
Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Mr. Yongyuth Wichaidit last week expressed his full support for flood-stricken Asian Institute of Technology (AIT),as it has benefited higher education and research in Thailand. The deputy prime minister made the remark on 9 December 2011 during a courtesy visit from AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust to inform the government about the devastation to AIT caused by the recent flood. Briefing the deputy PM on AIT's post-flood renovation efforts, President Irandoust said AIT was working hard to recover from the disaster and to improve its facilities and infrastructure.
Recognizing its importance to the country, the deputy Prime Minister said he was happythat an internationally-known institution of higher learning like AIT has selectedThailand as its home.
He also expressed a very positive view of AIT, mentioning that degrees granted by AIT areconsidered by the Thailand Civil Service Commission (CSC) to be equivalent to thoseissued from top universities overseas. Deputy PM Yongyuth while sympathizing with AITbeing damaged so severely from Thailand's worst flood in living memory, assured AIT ofthe Royal Thai Government's full support and assistance in the Institute's rebuildingefforts.
Accompanying the AIT President was Mr. Nusrat Alikhan, Regional Representative,Organization of Islamic Countries, World Trade, who facilitated the meeting. Also presentwas Mr. Tetsuo Hasegawa, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in Thailand, on behalf of theAmbassador of Japan, Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Director of Fund-Raising, AIT, and Mrs.Wannapa Pliansri, Royal Thai Government Coordinator, AIT.
The courtesy visit was in follow up to an 18 November 2011 meeting by the AIT Presidentwith the Head of the Government of Thailand's Flood Relief Operations Command (FROC) and the country's Justice Minister and Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Pol Gen Pracha Promnok at the FROC Headquarters, which was also arranged by Mr. Nusrat Alikhan, RegionalRepresentative, Organization of Islamic Countries, World Trade. At that meeting AIT wasalso assured of the full support by its host country Thailand.
Photo shows from left: Mr. Nusrat Alikhan, Regional Representative, Organization of Islamic Countries, World Trade; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Mr. Yongyuth Wichaidit; and AIT President Said Irandoust.