Thursday September 14, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 16:30 p.m. – Khon Kaen University, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Africa Embassy of Thailand held the big event: “The Colours of Africa 2023” with academic lectures on the Region of Africa and visits to the institutions. Mr. Surapon Petch-vra, Vice Chairman of Khon Kaen University Council, gave a welcoming speech to H.E. Mr. Moustapha Mahmoud Moustapha Elkouny, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Thailand and the delegation of the African Ambassadors to Thailand. Mr. Worawoot Pongprapapant, Director-General, Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs opened the academic talk session. Over 200 University administrators, students, lecturers and academic personnel of the Northeast institutions attended. The event was held at Peerasit Khamnuansilpa Room, College of Local Administration, Khon Kaen University.
Mr. Surapon Petch-vra, Vice Chairman of Khon Kaen University Council mentioned in his welcoming speech, “Khon Kaen University and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are pleased to support educational collaboration with the African Embassy in Thailand. The special academic lecture about the Region of Africa, ‘The Colours of Africa 2023’ today will raise awareness of the potentialities of the African Region in trading and investments. It will also enhance better understanding of the culture and tourism in Africa to the academic sector and the people in Thailand, and at the same time celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the African Union. Thailand is always determined to tighten the Thailand-Africa relationships in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals.”
“Khon Kaen University, as a leading research and socially dedicated university is strong in research. There are a number of specific research centers that aim to use the outcomes of research studies to solve important problems in the region. For example, the Liver Fluke and Cholangiocarcinoma Research Center is outstanding in the tropical medicine and diseases. The Center was founded to promote happiness and good living of the community people. In addition, there are the projects carried out continuously on sustainable agriculture, food safety, and different fields of engineering, all of which involve African communities. Many proactive projects have been performed, for over 2 decades, with countries in Africa, such as training of over 100 African students at the graduate level at the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA). The training in this regard covers smart soil in farming, water management, local foods, and food safety. There have been workshops arranged on tropical diseases and engineering at Polytechnic of Namibia, Africa. Two MoUs have been signed with African institutions and Morocco.”
“Presently, there are 3 African students studying at a graduate level in Khon Kaen University, one from South Africa studying for a master’s degree at the Faculty of Engineering; one from Nigeria studying for a PhD degree at the Faculty of Medicine; and the third from Egypt studying at a PhD degree at the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts. There were African students graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture and the Graduate School of Khon Kaen University,” added the Vice Chairman of Khon Kaen University Council.
The Colours of Africa 2023 featured special talks by the team of Ambassadors of Africa to Thailand and Charge d’ Affaires from the African Embassy. The talks provided knowledge about African Region to people and institutions in Khon Kaen, with possibilities for trading and investment between African Region and the private sector in Khon Kaen and the provinces nearby. The first session was a Panel Discussion on: “The African Union Agenda 2063” by Ambassadors and a Charge d’ Affaires of the 6 African countries, namely, H.E. Mr. Moustapha Mahmoud Moustapha Elkouny, the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Thailand; H.E. Mr. Kiptiness Lindsay Kimwole, Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to Thailand; H.E. Mr. Abderrahim Rahhaly, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Thailand; H.E. Mr. Ovikuroma Orogun Djebah, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; H.E. Mr. Darkey Ephraim Africa, Ambassador of Republic of South Africa to Thailand; and Mr. Ashoor Salem Ashoor Omran, Acting Charge d’ Affaires of the State of Libya to Thailand. The second session was a special talk on “Benefactions of Mr. Nelson Mandela to the Region of Africa” by H.E. Mr. Darkey Ephraim Africa, Ambassador of Republic of South Africa to Thailand.
After the lectures, the delegation of Ambassadors visited the Innovation Farming Learning Center, the Earthworm Learning Center, the Soil and Fertilizer Unit, and the Fishery Unit of the Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University. The collaboration with the Embassies of Africa to Thailand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this time is very useful and truly promotes the future collaboration.
News: Watchara Noichompoo
Photos: Natthawut Jaruwong
