WNAM REPORT: Coordinator General of the OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, met with His Excellency Mr. Arun Boonchom, Sheikhul Islam of Thailand, at the Central Islamic Council of Thailand in Bangkok.
During the meeting, Prof. Choudhary briefed His Excellency on OIC-COMSTECH’s strategic initiatives in the fields of science, technology, innovation, health, and climate change, particularly aimed at uplifting Muslim communities across OIC Member and Observer States.
Prof. Choudhary proposed a number of joint initiatives between OIC-COMSTECH and the Central Islamic Council of Thailand. These include awarding one hundred scholarships to Muslim students in Thailand for higher studies in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, big data, and other disruptive technologies. The Central Islamic Council of Thailand will be requested to nominate top institutions, universities, and R&D centres from Thailand for inclusion in the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence in order to promote academic and scientific collaboration.
Additionally, Prof. Choudhary proposed the establishment of a Regional Halal Science Centre in Thailand to advance research and innovation in Halal science. A network of Halal Science Centres will also be launched under the auspices of the Sheikhul Islam of Thailand, aimed at strengthening Halal certification, training, and research capacities.
Another major initiative includes a joint programme by OIC-COMSTECH and the Central Islamic Council of Thailand to provide one hundred scholarships and specialized training in Halal Science for students from the twenty least developed OIC countries in Africa. This five-year programme will be implemented in collaboration with leading Thai institutions such as the Halal Science Centre at Chulalongkorn University and Prince of Songkla University.
Both organizations agreed to sign dedicated Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to implement these initiatives. All related activities and programmes will be coordinated through the Royal Thai Embassy in Islamabad.
This high-level engagement marks a significant step toward enhanced cooperation between OIC-COMSTECH and the Central Islamic Council of Thailand in empowering Muslim communities through education, science, and technological advancement.
