Ambassador of Thailand visited FH Krems
As a continuation of the ASEAN guest lectures series of the IMC Export degree programme, under the auspices of the Chair for International Law and Global Political Studies, Prof. Dr. Anis Bajrektarevic invited H.E. Ms. Nongnuth Phetcharatana, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Austria and other Vienna-based International Organisations.
f.l.t.r.: Prof. Anis Bajrektarevic; H.E. Ms. Nongnuth Phetcharatana, Dr. h.c. Heinz Boyer and MMag. Christopher Schwand, programme director.
H.E. was accompanied by her assistant and several embassy staff and Ms. Kathrin Jindra-Geiszler as a representative of Tourism Authority of Thailand. Also, the embassy organised a small exhibition providing information about Austria-Thai Relations and various development projects initiated by His Majesty the King of Thailand. The Office of Commercial Affairs and the Office of Industrial Affairs also set up an information booth on trade and business opportunities.
On behalf of Dr. h.c. Heinz Boyer, Prof. Bajrektarevic warmly welcomed the ambassador and the many participating IMC professors and students in the beautiful baroque hall of the university at this outstanding event.
H.E. Phetcharatana opened her content-rich presentation with a brief introduction, commenting on the general economic, social, environmental and political situation of the Kingdom of Thailand. Further on H.E elaborated on the booming trade and promising investment opportunities in Thailand and the country’s enormous economic potentials and strengths. Thailand’s strategic location in the centre of South-East Asia, its open, government-supported trade and investment policy, as well as the continuous growth in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) illustrates the country’s importance in world economy. Within her content-rich and extensive presentation H.E Ambassador seized actual issues and challenges confronting ASEAN countries and adaption of the ASEAN charter. In this context H.E discussed Thailand’s role in global issues, such as climate change, human rights, anti-human and anti–drug trafficking as well as food security. Moreover, H.E proudly alludes to the international relations between Thailand and Austria for more than 140 years which have been coined by mutually beneficial educational as well as scientific and cultural exchanges. As a possible follow up, Prof. Bajrektarevic and the Ambassador discussed the forthcoming Business Focus ASEAN Seminar due for late June as well as Thailand as a venue for the IMC students’ exchange semesters and internship offers in Thailand the upcoming years.
The final part of the lecture was reserved for student’s questions, which was a great opportunity to exchange different points of view.
After the guest lecture Ms. Jindra-Geiszler, Marketing Manager of the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Austria, provided an overview of Thailand’s beautiful and mystical tourist regions.
The official part of the event was closed with a get-together cocktail-reception and a family photo. Over and above all participants were invited to join H.E and her colleagues for a small brunch where delicious, traditional Thai food was provided by our guest. Meanwhile IMC students had the opportunity to approach the eloquent Ambassador with further questions in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
The guest lecture by H.E. Ms. Nongnuth Phetcharatana was the 75th event under the auspices of the Chair for International Law and Global Political Studies.
The next event will take place in early April when the IMC export programme is hosting H.E. Jose Maria PONS IRAZAZABAL, Spanish Ambassador to Austria.