31 October 2024: Dr. Anat Arbhabhirama, Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees, and AIT President Professor Pai-Chi Li met with Mr. Vichai Kulsomphob, CEO & Executive Chairman of Saha Pathana Inter-Holding Public Company Limited (SPI), at SPI’s Bangkok headquarters on 31 October 2024.
SPI, the investment arm of Saha Group, is one of Thailand’s most diversified conglomerates, with an extensive portfolio across consumer goods, industrial manufacturing, and retail. In 2023, SPI partnered with Zhen Ding Tech Group (ZDT), the world’s largest PCB solution provider, headquartered in Taiwan, to establish Peng Shen Technology. Under the joint venture, Thailand’s first state-of-the-art printed circuit board (PCB) factory is being built at Saha Group’s industrial park in Kabin Buri, Prachinburi Province, slated for operation in 2025. This high-tech facility, spanning over 120 acres, represents an initial investment of 10 billion Baht, with expansion plans exceeding 50 billion Baht by 2030. During Dr. Anat’s visit to Taiwan in August 2024, Professor Li had arranged a meeting with ZDT Chairman Mr. Charles Shen and his senior executive team, and avenues for further collaboration were discussed.
In the meeting, Mr Vichai expressed keen interest in partnering with AIT in capacity-building initiatives and setting up knowledge-sharing programs between AIT, SPI, and other Thai universities to help close the skills gap, drive research and development, and boost Thailand’s capabilities in tech and sustainable industry, as Saha Group sets up Thailand’s first modern PCB factory. Dr. Anat emphasized the importance of closing the gap between industry and academia, underscoring the need for sustainable development solutions in Thailand and across the region. Professor Li echoed this sentiment, noting that AIT can complement the 5 Thai universities which have partnered SPI and ZDT through Peng Seng Technology, and hoped to come up with mechanism for knowledge sharing, and looked forward to a bright future working together.
A formal cooperation agreement is underway, with an emphasis on collaborative research, skill-building programs, and knowledge-sharing platforms between AIT, SPI, and ZDT. This collaboration aims to make significant strides in fostering innovation and equipping the next generation of professionals to lead Thailand’s tech-driven future.
Attendees from SPI included Ms. Suthida Jongjenkit, President; Ms. Prim Vinichvong, HRD Manager; and Ms. Kaeladaporn Saengchansivadol, Investment Executive. AIT’s delegation included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mongkol Ekpanyapong, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Center; Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Executive Director of Advancement and Alumni Affairs; Mr. Karma Rana, Institute Secretary; Ms. Chalita Lertwinyu, Executive Director of Thailand Affairs; and Ms. Nitjaree Wongluck, Senior Officer at OTA.
