The French Minister of Higher Education witnesses signing between CIRAD and the Asian Institute of Technology

On 21 October 2023, H.E. Prof. Dr. Sylvie Retailleau, the French Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, and H.E. Mr. Jean-Claude Poimboeuf, the French Ambassador to Thailand, led a high-level delegation to conduct a landmark visit to the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand. CIRAD, as part of the delegation, was represented by Dr. François Roger, Regional Director for Southeast Asia. Chairman Dr. Anat Arbhabirama and President Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto, AIT extended a warm reception to the visitors, along with noted faculty members and senior executives. 

This historic visit culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Dr. François Roger, CIRAD, and President Yamamoto, AIT, further cementing the collaborative efforts between the two institutions. The MoU, witnessed by key figures including the French Minister H.E. Prof. Dr. Sylvie Retailleau, French Ambassador H.E. Mr. Jean-Claude Poimboeuf, and AIT's dignitaries, emphasizes the mutual commitment to pursue a wide range of research and educational endeavors.

The partnership, which dates back to the 1990s, has seen various CIRAD researchers contribute significantly to AIT's projects, in multiple capacities, including teaching, supervising, co-publications, and engaging in various research projects, successfully building an extensive network of students and researchers in the region.

AIT's pivotal role in advancing technological and sustainable development in Asia through education and research aligns seamlessly with CIRAD's mission to support agricultural development, with many commonalities in research areas, including: water management, food and health security, governance and protection of renewable resources, geomatics and remote sensing. 

The visit by the French delegation not only reaffirms the shared objectives but also underscores the importance of this partnership, which has thrived for over 64 years.

Moreover, the visit involved a tour of AIT's Global Water & Sanitation Center, showcasing projects like those supported by France’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD), underlining the tangible outcomes of this collaboration.

AIT is scheduled to welcome a CIRAD senior researcher specializing in water management early next year. With the rapid development of irrigation, hydropower and other water uses in Southeast Asia, the growing pressure on water resources, intensified by climate and global changes, alters its availability and quality, exposing ecosystems, economies and the livelihoods of local communities to various risks. Understanding the multiple and multi-disciplinary processes that impact water resources should help improve its management for a greater sustainability.

The visit by the French delegation not only celebrates past successes but also sets the stage for a new era of cooperation, aiming to contribute to the sustainable development of tropical and Mediterranean regions and support the global sustainable development goals (SDGs) with a clear vision towards achieving net zero emissions by 2030.