On Tuesday, June 11th, the AIT community, and stakeholders gathered at AITCC to celebrate a significant event, the conferment ceremony of Mr. Masatsugu Asakawa, President of the Asian Development Bank. He is the 3rd ADB president to receive an AIT Honorary Doctorate, following former Presidents Masao Fujioka and Tadao Chino in 1988 and 2000, respectively. 

The Ceremony

During this prestigious ceremony, Mr. Masatsugu Askwawa was awarded with an Honorary Doctorate Degree – Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) by AIT President Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto. This awarding of an honorary Degree is how the Institute expresses its highest recognition of Mr. Asakawa’s exceptional contributions to the economic, social, and technological development of the Asia-Pacific region.

“AIT is proud to confer its highest honor on President Asakawa, whose outstanding leadership of the ADB has positively impacted untold numbers of people across Asia and the Pacific.”

President Yamamoto

Read more here from AIT’s official page.

Conferment ceremony of ADB President Mr. Masatsugu Asakawa

Project Displays and Presentations

Following the ceremony, AIT showcased various projects and centers via display stands to the attending guests. Among these was our Global Water & Sanitation Center. 

Guests had the opportunity to explore detailed displays, which highlighted the center’s key projects, research findings, and technological advancements. These displays provided a comprehensive overview of the center’s core and structure, illustrating our vision and mission through our portfolio of hubs and our project spotlights. Furthermore, our co-director, Prof. Thammarat Koottatep, presented the center’s initiatives and achievements to the ADB president Mr. MasatsuguAsakawa.

Overall, the project displays and discussions were a pleasant complement to the event, fostering a deeper understanding of AIT’s contributions to sustainable development and strengthening connections with influential stakeholder

Dr. Kavinda, Prof. Thammarat, Mr. Anouj Mehta and Prof. Sangam group photo after a conversation about continued collaboration with ADB and GWSC
Prof. Thammarat Koottatep showcasing our center to Mr. Masatsugu Asakawa
The Poster showcased to the Attendees.

We would like to thank the organizers and delegates for making this event an elegant and memorable occasion. Their event ensured in an atmosphere of respect and admiration fitting for such a distinguished honoree. The event not only celebrated the achievements of Mr. Masatsugu Asakawabut also provided an invaluable opportunity for networking and collaboration among attendees.