On 28 March 2024, Dr. Pechdau Tohmeena, Advisor to Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) along with Dr. Junpen Meka-apiruk, Inspector General of MHESI, Dr. Chutima Eamchotchawalit, Governor of TISTR, and Dr. Luksmon Smansin, Director of International Affairs Division, Office of the Permanent Secretary, MHESI attended the meeting with Ms. Mami Fukuchi, Director of Asia and Pacific Division, Trade Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Ms. Yumi Numajiri, Commercial Attache, Embassy of Japan in Thailand, and other delegates at the Office of the Permanent Secretary, MHESI.
The main objectives of the meeting were to review the progress of ongoing collaborative projects between Thailand and Japan, share recent science and technology policies, discuss future cooperation in energy and industry, and express gratitude for MHESI’s assistance in processed scallop products.
On this occasion, Dr. Pechdau expressed her sincere thanks to Japan for their support in human capacity building through the establishment of Thai-KOSEN Institutes, which aimed to train skilled engineers to serve future industrial demands. Additionally, the Advisor shared key policies and initiatives including MHESI for Electric Vehicle (EV), Carbon Neutrality, and Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi), aimed at achieving long-term net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and climate change mitigation.
During the meeting, Ms. Mami presented on future ASEAN-Japan cooperation in the automotive industry, highlighting the ASEAN-Japan Co-creation Initiative for the Next-Generation Automotive Industry. The strategic master plan was devised by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), which emphasized 1) the establishment of the Asia Zero Emission Center, 2) the creation of a network in industry-government-academia, and 3) survey analysis that contributed to solving social issues. These were in alignment with the policies to decarbonize the entire value chain and build a resilient and reliable supply chain that realized diversified portfolio production and export of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs).
Previously, Dr. Chutima and Ms. Yumi discussed the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Circular System Project in Thailand, which was a project to manage end-of-life vehicles and recycle auto parts to reduce waste and promote a circular economy.
With the expertise and cutting-edge laboratories, the Railway Transportation System Testing Center (RTTC), TISTR offers safety and performance testing services and certification for railway system components and automotive parts including EVs both Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), EV buses and battery recycling, which support entrepreneurs as well as nurture the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model.