On 29 January 2024, Mr. Thirapath Monkolnavin, the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) of the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi, participated in the two-day international conference on "Indian @2030: Third Largest Economy in the World" as the guest of honour. The event, hosted by Jesus and Mary College of the University of Delhi, witnessed a dynamic exchange of ideas and insights aimed at understanding India's economic trajectory and its implications globally.

In his address, the DCM underscored the burgeoning economic strength of India and its promising future prospects. He also emphasized the pivotal role of academic communities, educational collaborations and scholarly exchanges between Thailand and India, and beyond to learn more about each other in order to unleash considerable potentials of cooperation that India's journey towards becoming the world's third-largest economy by 2030 has to offer.

The conference featured distinguished speakers including Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Director, Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID), and Ms. Amee Mishra, Senior Economist and Head of Policy at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), India, who shared invaluable perspectives on India's economic landscape.

A proud moment for the embassy was to welcome three esteemed scholars, Dr. Titipol Phakdeewanich, Dean, Faculty of Political Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Dr. Sophana Srichampa, Associate Professor, Centre for Bharat Studies, Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol University, and Dr. Piyanat Soikham, Assistant Professor in Politics and International Relations, Faculty of Political Science, Ubon Ratchathani University as panelists for the conference. Dr Titipol addressed the Mekong Ganga Cooperation and India's interest in mainland Southeast Asia, meanwhile Dr. Sophana talked about the Indian diaspora in Thailand and soft power through cultural democracy.

As India charts its course towards economic prominence, the collaborative spirit exhibited at the conference underscores the shared commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships and exchanges. The event not only celebrated academic discourse but also laid the groundwork for future collaborations in education, sustainable development, and cultural exchange between India and Thailand.