By Office of International and Public Affairs
27 May 2024: AIT President Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto undertook an official visit to Bhutan from 22 May to 25 May 2024 with the aim of enhancing existing partnerships and exploring potential collaborations with key government, academic and private entities. Accompanying him were Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Executive Director of the Office of Advancement & Alumni Affairs; Mr. Voravate Chonlasin, Executive Director of AIT Extension; and Dr. Sumana Shrestha, Director of International Affairs of the Office of International and Public Affairs.
During the visit, the AIT delegation engaged in productive discussions with notable Bhutanese figures, including H.E. Mr. Gem Tshering, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and also an AIT alumnus; H.E. Mr. Yeshey Penjor, former Minister of Agriculture and Forests and also AIT alumnus; H.E. Dasho Kesang Wangdi, Deputy Chairperson of the Royal Privy Council and Chair of the Bhutan Trust Fund. In addition, the delegation met with Dasho Chewang Rinzin, Director of the Royal Institute for Governance and Strategic Studies (RIGSS); Dasho Kinlay Tshering and Dasho Tshering Cigay Dorji, Commissioners of the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC). The delegation also met with Mr. Sonam Tobjey, CEO of Bhutan Power Corporation (BPC); Mr. Karma Tshering, Chair of Bhutan Development Bank (BDB) Limited, Ms. Tshering Om, CEO of BDB, Mr. Pema R. Wangchug, Associate Director of the DRIVE, InnoTech Department at Druk Holding and Investments Ltd; and AITAA Bhutan Chapter.
The visit underscored the commitment to deepen ties and identify new avenues for cooperation in alignment with AIT’s mission and Bhutan’s developmental objectives. AIT is committed to support in the capacity building and human resource development in various sectors in Bhutan through long-term degree programs, short-term training and technical training programs, research collaborations and exposure visit programs.
Similarly, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was renewed between the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and Construction Development Corporation Limited (CDCL), Bhutan. Signed by Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto and Mr. Karma Gayley, CEO of CDCL, the MoU focuses on developing both long and short-term professional courses, postgraduate certificates, and diplomas for CDCL’s engineers and management staff. This MoU, first established in July 2019, marks a continued commitment to collaborative educational endeavours and capacity building in Bhutan.
These efforts pave the way for future projects and partnerships that will benefit both AIT and its Bhutanese counterparts, enhancing academic cooperation and contributing to the country’s human resource development.
