The Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara organized the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Thai Students in Turkey during 17 – 20 June 2012. Sixteen Thai students studying in Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Istanbul and Izmir attended the Meeting. After H.E. Mr. Rathakit Manathat, Ambassador of Thailand to Turkey, gave opening remarks, Mr. Dumrong Poottan and Mr. Manoch Poottan, guest speakers, gave a talk and shared their experiences and advised the Thai Muslim students on career opportunity. The activities of the Meeting also included briefing on the topic “Islamic and Democracy: The Experience of Turkey” by Dr. Mehmet Paçacı, Director General for Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs, and an excursion to Safranbolu, one of the most well known UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in Turkey.

At the meeting, the Thai Students Association in Turkey – TSAT (Türkiye’deki Taylandlı Öğrenciler Derneği) was established by the Thai students attending the meeting. The Committee of the TSAT is composed of Chairperson (Mr. Abdul-awal Sidi, undergraduate student of the Faculty of Theology, Marmara University, Istanbul), 3 Vice-chairpersons (for Activities, Treasury and Public Relations), Secretary and Provincial Representatives while Ambassador of Thailand to the Republic of Turkey is the ex-officio Chairman of the TSAT’s Advisory Board. Mr. Dumrong Poottan and Mr. Manoch Poottan were pleasantly accepted to be the members of the Advisory Board upon invitation of the TSAT Committee. During the closing ceremony of the Meeting on 20 June 2012, H.E. Ambassador Rathakit Manathat contributed THB 50,000.- (TL 2,941.-) seed money to the TSAT on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The same amount of seed money was also given to the TSAT by Mr. Dumrong Poottan.

The main objectives of the TSAT are to establish a formal framework for the organization and network among Thai students in Turkey for solidality and mutual supports among themselves, to undergo activities for the benefits of the students and Thai community, as well as to promote the culture, better understanding and image of Thailand in Turkey. Thai students in Turkey, alumni of Turkish academic institutions with Thai nationality and Thai students studying in related Turkish institutions in Thailand are eligible to apply for membership of the TSAT.

The 2012 Annual Meeting of the Thai Students in Turkey is the first meeting that the participants came from all over Turkey. Realizing the effectiveness of forging bonds of friendship among the students and promoting closer cooperation between the Royal Thai Embassy and the students through the meeting, from this year onwards, the Royal Thai Embassy will organize the Meeting of the Thai Students in Turkey continuously. The tentative activities of the 2013 Meeting include a guidance session on job opportunities, workshops on public speaking and writing for business purposes, a briefing on the ASEAN Community, a sightseeing tour and a sporting activity.