The visit reinforces long-standing cooperation between AIT and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) to advance sustainable development and SDG implementation across the Asia-Pacific region.
By Office of Communications and Public Affairs
4 March 2026 – Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), visited the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) on 3 March 2026 to renew the Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions and discuss future collaboration on sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.
The visit began with a courtesy meeting with AIT President Prof. Pai-Chi Li, followed by the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AIT and UN ESCAP. The MoU renewal continues a long-standing partnership focused on advancing sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region.
Welcoming the delegation, Prof. Li expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration between AIT and UN ESCAP. He noted that the renewed agreement reflects shared priorities, including supporting the region’s transition toward decarbonization by 2050 and accelerating progress toward sustainable development.
“Our collaboration with UN ESCAP reflects AIT’s long-standing commitment to advancing sustainable development through research, innovation, and policy engagement across the Asia-Pacific region,” said Prof. Pai-Chi Li.
Ms. Alisjahbana highlighted the long-standing cooperation between the two institutions, including joint research, publications, and knowledge exchange on sustainable development and emerging regional challenges. She noted that the partnership is strengthened by complementary roles, with AIT contributing academic expertise and ESCAP providing policy perspectives, and looked forward to expanding cooperation in the years ahead.
Following the MoU signing, Ms. Alisjahbana delivered remarks titled “Regaining Momentum in Asia-Pacific SDGs Implementation.” She underscored that SDG progress in the region remains off track, particularly on climate action, and noted persistent gaps in gender equality and strong institutions. She emphasized the need to better integrate SDGs into national planning and budgeting, strengthen data systems, and ensure inclusive development, while also highlighting the growing role of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, in supporting sustainable development.
“Academic institutions such as AIT play a critical role in generating knowledge, innovation, and capacity that can accelerate SDG implementation across the Asia-Pacific region,” said Ms. Alisjahbana.
AIT faculty members then shared ongoing research and collaboration with UN ESCAP in areas such as air pollution mitigation, climate change and energy transition, disaster risk reduction, public policy, sanitation, and AI-driven technologies. Both sides expressed interest in expanding joint research, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building activities.
The UN ESCAP delegation included Mr. Srinivas Tata, Director of the Strategy and Programme Management Division; Mr. Mitchell M. Hsieh, Chief of Staff (a.i.) and Chief of the Communications and Knowledge Management Section; Ms. Zeynep Orhun Girard, Chief of the Capacity Development and Partnerships Section; Mr. Naylin Oo, Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary; and Mr. Ka-Fa Wong, Programme Management Officer.
AIT and UN ESCAP first signed their MoU in April 2021 to support developing countries across the Asia-Pacific region. The partnership focuses on disaster risk reduction, sustainable energy transitions, data and statistics, transport and climate change, natural resources management, and policy analysis to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In recent months, AIT has expanded joint activities through policy dialogue, technical support, and knowledge exchange, including hosting ESCAP experts under the 2026 Climate Change Seminar Series and contributing technical inputs on localizing NDCs in cities. AIT is also supporting preparations for the Ninth Committee on Environment and Development (CED-9), to be held on 1–3 July 2026, through technical inputs to the relevant expert group and ESCAP division.
The renewal of the MoU reinforces the commitment of both institutions to advancing sustainable and inclusive development across the region.
From AIT, the meeting was attended by Prof. Manukid Parnichkun, Vice President for Academic and Research (VPAR); Dr. Ekbordin Winijkul, Dean, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Prof. Nitin K. Tripathi, Acting Dean, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology; Prof. Jai Govind Singh, Dean, Faculty of Climate Change and Sustainability; Dr. Thi Phuoc Lai Nguyen, Dean, Faculty of Public Policy and Sustainable Development; Prof. Thammarat Koottatep, Professor, Environmental Engineering and Management/Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Co-Director, Global Water and Sanitation Center; Dr. Indrajit Pal, Associate Professor, Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management/FCCS; Mr. Karma Rana, Institute Secretary; Dr. Sumana Shrestha, Director, Office of International Affairs; Mr. Sanjeet Amatya, Director, Office of Communications and Public Affairs; Ms. Kritagya Regmi, Media and Communications Officer, OCPA; Ms. Indra Kumari, Coordinator, OIA; and Ms. Sirima Sirimattayanan, Senior Program Officer, OIA.
