26 August 2026 – The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) welcomed H.E. Mr. Puneet Agrawal, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Thailand and AIT Trustee, to the AIT campus on Wednesday, 26 August 2026. The visit highlighted the longstanding partnership between AIT and India and provided an opportunity to discuss future cooperation in education, research, innovation, and regional capacity development.
Over the decades, AIT-India cooperation has included faculty secondments, government support, student mobility, institutional partnerships, and alumni engagement. Ambassador Agrawal assumed charge as Ambassador of India to Thailand on 2 May 2026. He was accompanied by Ms. Jagpreet Kaur, First Secretary; Mr. S.R.P. Singh, Second Secretary; and Ms. Poonpimol Kessakul, Education Officer.
The delegation was warmly welcomed by General Dr. Boonsrang Niumpradit, Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees, who noted India’s long and meaningful association with AIT. He emphasized that the relationship has been built over many decades through a shared commitment to education, research, capacity development, and regional cooperation. He expressed confidence that Ambassador Agrawal’s extensive diplomatic experience would bring valuable perspectives to AIT’s governance and future direction in his capacity as a member of the Board of Trustees.
Professor Pai-Chi Li, President of AIT, highlighted the Institute’s strong connection with India, including more than 1,855 Indian alumni and a vibrant community of Indian students, faculty, and staff. He also noted AIT’s expanding partnerships with Indian institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). He referred to his recent visit to the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) as an important opportunity to deepen academic and research collaboration and strengthen institutional linkages between AIT and India.
The meeting was attended by Professor Siddharth Jabade, Vice President for Administration and Development; Professor Manukid Parnichkun, Vice President for Academic and Research; the Deans of the Faculties and School of Management namely, Prof. Anil K. Anal, Prof. Sarawut Ninsawat, Prof. Jai G. Singh, and Prof. Yuosre Badir; Director of the Office of International Affairs, Dr. Sumana Shrestha; Institute Secretary, Mr. Karma Rana; and Institute Deputy Secretary, Dr. Namita Sravat. Discussions emphasized the importance of building “knowledge corridors” to promote student mobility, innovation, talent development, and industry linkages. Participants also discussed ongoing program-level cooperation in agriculture, food systems, energy, climate action, sustainability, and capacity development, as well as potential partnerships in management education and executive programs. The discussion also highlighted the importance of continued support from the Embassy of India in areas such as Indian faculty secondment, new collaborative initiatives, and financial support.
In his remarks, Ambassador Agrawal noted AIT’s distinctive place in the Asian higher education landscape and emphasized that its knowledge, experience, and networks transcend national boundaries. He highlighted AIT’s regional and international character as one of its greatest strengths and described the Institute as a platform that can contribute meaningfully to Asia’s future. He identified artificial intelligence, renewable energy, semiconductor technology, and climate management as promising areas for enhanced collaboration between AIT and India.
During the visit, Ambassador Agrawal also met with Indian faculty, staff, and students and participated in an interactive session with them. Students presented their research work, and Ambassador Agrawal welcomed them to attend Thailand Business Conclave being organized by the Embassy of India on 27 August, which will bring together Indian and Thai business leaders and industry representatives.
The visit concluded with a tour of AIT’s research facilities, including the Digital Agriculture Lab, Smart Indoor Vertical Farming Laboratory, and AI and Simulation Laboratory.
The visit reaffirmed the strong and longstanding partnership between AIT and India and opened further avenues for cooperation in education, research, innovation, professional development, and regional capacity building.
