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Tarun Gogoi visits Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand

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The Chief Minister of Assam State, India, H.E. Tarun Gogoi, today told administration officials at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok, Thailand, that his government remains interested in tackling unemployment, alleviating poverty, and mitigating and managing natural disasters. Also high on the minister’s agenda is improving professional capacity of people through skills upgrading and training development programmes.


“These issues must be solved through a focus on improved education that stresses science and technology, and capacity building,” Minister Gogoi told AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust, while meeting with senior faculty and staff of the international institute based in Thailand.


The Minister made his remarks while leading a small but high-ranking delegation on a visit to AIT on 3 May 2011 to discuss possibilities for partnership between AIT and Assam State. The meeting was a follow-up to a visit by President Irandoust on 1 May 2008, during which Minister Gogoi expressed interest in AIT research and development projects that might have importance to Assam, such as in flood control, and disaster management and mitigation.


Minister Gogoi was joined by H.E. Mr. Pisan Manawapan, Thailand’s newly appointed Ambassador to India. Ambassador Manawapan officially assumed his post in New Delhi on 22 March 2011.


During a meeting, numerous AIT officials stressed how the AIT’s academic and professionally-focused higher learning programs could assist Assam State in achieving its socioeconomic and development aims. AIT President Irandoust briefed the Minister in detail on how AIT’s wide array of new programs which focus on the intersection of advanced technology and its application, sustainable development and capacity building, dovetail with the development needs of Assam State.


He also informed the visitors that in August 2010 India was one of the initial 12 countries to sign the New AIT Charter that would grant it renewed status as an International intergovernmental organization of higher learning.


Impressed by the wealth of new programmes offered by AIT, Mr. Gogoi said: “I am happy to learn that AIT is pursuing so many new, relevant programmes that offer solutions to a number of problems.”


The Minister was also accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Gogoi, Mr. Ranjit Barthakur, Advisor to Chief Minister of Assam, Mrs. Barthakur and Mr. Bipul Gogoi, Personal Secretary to the Chief Minister. Also joining the delegation to AIT from Bangkok was Dr. Jaideep Nair, Counselor, Indian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, Ms. Potchamas Saengthien, Second Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand.


Photo caption: From left are H.E. Mr. Pisan Manawapan, Thai Ambassador to India; Shri. Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister of Assam State, India; AIT President Said Irandoust; and Mr. Ranjit Barthakur, Chief Investment Advisor to Chief Minister of Assam.




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