Let's celebrate the Year of Innovation together !

Chaired by Ms Treenuch Thienthong, Thai Minister of Education, and Mr Olivier Becht, Minister Delegate to the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of Foreign Trade, Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad,  the launching ceremony of the France-Thailand Year of Innovation 2023 was held on Thursday 26 January 2023 at Benjakitti Park in Bangkok.

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About 3000 people gathered in this park in the Thai capital to celebrate the inauguration of this year of exceptional bilateral cooperation around a ceremony and a village of activities. Space in all its various aspects was at the heart of this launch event, both an element of fascination for the general public and a perfect example of the high level industrial and scientific cooperation that France and Thailand are developing together. 

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The public was able to enjoy flight simulators presented by Airbus, virtual reality experiences on the space mission of French astronaut Thomas Pesquet filmed by director Pierre-Emanuel Le Goff, and stargazing through telescopes installed on site by the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT). French operators also presented their works in Thailand : l’Agence française de développement and its exhibition "How can space technologies benefit development projects"; and Institut of research for development (IRD) with "Insects to the Planet's rescue ». 

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The evening was enlivened by a concert by the talented and energetic Franco-Thai singer Zom Marie and concluded with an impressive drone show on the theme of Franco-Thai friendship, their space cooperation and the Little Prince. 

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Among the guests of honour, Mrs Claudie and Mr Jean-Pierre Haigneré, French astronauts, gave a rich testimony of their space experience to the microphone of Nattanon Dungsunenarn, creator of the space magazine Spaceth.co. 

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In addition, the public was able to taste French pastries offered for the occasion.

This event brought together a number of Thai and French institutional figures, including the President of the Thai Senate, Mr Pornpetch Vichit Chol. Pornpetch Vichit Cholchai, the Vice-Governor of Bangkok Dr. Tavida Kamolvej, Dr. Pun-Arj Chairatana, Executive Director of the Thai National Innovation Agency (NIA) and Mr. Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to Thailand. Also on stage were Mr. Olivier d'Agay - grand-nephew of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Secretary General of the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Foundation for Youth (FASEJ) as well as the director Mr. Pierre-Emmanuel Le Goff, Mr. Pierre André representing Airbus and Mr. Pakorn Apaphant, Executive Director of the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA)

 

This joint initiative of France and Thailand was officially launched and has now inaugurated a series of events that will illustrate the innovative capacity of France and Thailand throughout the year.

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 Many thanks to all our sponsors : Airbus, Michelin, CP, Alstom, Dextra, Colas, Atlas capital, Accor, Sodexo, Big C, Thai bev, Air France and Airbus 

And to our exhitors and participants :  Agence française de développement; Alliance française; Institut de recherche pour le développement ; the European Union delegation; ; Business France ; Franco thai Chamber of Commerce ; National Innovation agency ; ational Science and Technology Development Agency; National Science Museum ; Chulalongkorn university ; Naresuan university ; King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok ; Campus France ; La Fondation Saint Exupéry ; Asian institue of Technology.