Ambassador of Thailand Visits OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat to Strengthen Scientific Collaboration
Islamabad : Rongvudhi Virabutr, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Pakistan, paid an official visit to the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad on Tuesday where he held a detailed meeting with H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General OIC-COMSTECH, along with senior officials from the Secretariat.
The meeting focused on enhancing scientific and technological cooperation between COMSTECH and the Kingdom of Thailand.
Prof. Dr. Choudhary warmly welcomed the Ambassador and acknowledged the strategic importance of Thailand as an observer state of OIC and COMSTECH. He said that Thailand’s role is as significant as that of the member states, especially in advancing shared goals in science, technology, and innovation. He stated that this meeting marks the beginning of a new era of strategic cooperation between the two sides.
The Ambassador Virabutr expressed appreciation for the warm reception and reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment in building stronger scientific ties with COMSTECH and the OIC region. He appreciated COMSTECH’s role as an effective bridge for promoting science and technology cooperation among OIC countries and beyond. The Ambassador also agreed to various proposals presented during the meeting and welcomed future collaboration with relevant Thai institutions.
During the meeting, a wide-ranging set of collaborative proposals was discussed. Key areas identified for future cooperation include the registration of Thai academic and research organizations on the OIC Technology and Innovation Portal, engagement of Thai youth in the OIC-COMSTECH Youth Leadership Training Program, and offering fellowships and scholarships to Thai students and researchers under the COMSTECH Fellowship Programme. Additionally, a youth exchange initiative between COMSTECH and Thailand was proposed to promote intercultural scientific understanding.
Other major areas of collaboration include inviting the Thai universities and research centers in the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence (CCoE), and participation in the COMSTECH Rectors Forum about CCoE. The Thai side was also invited to contribute to the COMSTECH Journal of Science Communication & Diplomacy and take part in international conferences and workshops on science communication and community engagement.
A major focus was placed on strengthening collaboration in the field of halal science. This includes the establishment of a regional center for Halal testing and research as well as capacity building in Thailand .
To promote inclusivity and gender equity in science, COMSTECH proposed offering ten annual research fellowships exclusively for women scientists from Thailand. Furthermore, collaboration on environmental sustainability was discussed, including the participation of Thai R&D centers and think tanks in COMSTECH’s Forum on Environment and Ecosystem Restoration.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to initiate these proposed collaborations in a phased manner and to maintain active communication for effective implementation. This visit reflects the growing commitment between COMSTECH and the Kingdom of Thailand to advance science and technology cooperation for mutual benefit across the OIC region and beyond.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
