AIT prez calls on PM Bhattarai

President of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand, Prof. Said Irandoust, called on Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai during a visit to Kathmandu on October 11.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Bhattarai reaffirmed his country’s strong support and commitment to AIT and its new AIT Charter. Having signed and ratified the Charter, he stressed that Nepal was ready and willing to facilitate the furthering of AIT’s activities and aspirations.

President Irandoust also thanked the Prime Minister for his approval in granting two scholarships per year for Nepalese nationals to study at AIT, in areas that are of priority to Nepal. The gesture of support from the Government of Nepal came on the heels of a meeting of the AIT President with the Prime Minister in June 2012.

The AIT president also briefed the Prime Minister of his participation as keynote speaker at the “Technology & Innovation Management” international conference, AIT’s strategic partnership with the Nepal Education Foundation-Consortium of Colleges, Nepal (NEF-CCN) as well as the public launch of targeted AIT programs in Nepal starting from January 2013.

On behalf of NEF-CCN, Professor Dr. Sririam B. Mathe, Chairperson of NEF-CCN, briefed the Prime Minister on the collaboration with AIT, future plans, and expressed his grateful thanks and appreciation to the government for its continued guidance, support and commitment as the programs enter their implementation phase.

Prime Minister Bhattarai welcomed AIT’s initiatives in Nepal, giving his personal assurances and the government’s full support and assistance for all planned activities.

On behalf of the Institute, President Irandoust also expressed his gratitude to former Chief Secretary and distinguished AIT alumnus Madhav P. Ghimire, for his instrumental role in the scholarship initiative for Nepalese nationals, as well as in pursuing the ratification of the new AIT Charter by the Government of Nepal. nepalnews.com