the Ambassador of Israel Dr. Meir Shlomo and President of Khon Kaen University Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, MD, presided over the inaugural ceremony of a new hybrid greenhouse at the Agricultural Technology Park of the Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University.
The hybrid greenhouse is aimed at increasing production capacity and transferring Israeli know-how to students and farmers in the areas. Half of the greenhouse is applied for normal production such as melons, peppers, tomatoes, etc. and the other half is for hydroponic products, detached from the ground, such as lettuce and greens.
The cooperation between Thailand and Israel in Khon Kaen Province started in the late 1960s when Israeli experts were invited to survey Ubolrat Dam. Later in 2002, the Embassy of Israel and Khon Kaen University signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which led to the establishment of a demonstration unit at the University in 2004, displaying various irrigation and fertigation technologies as well as Israel’s water saving techniques relevant to Thailand’s drought prone northeastern region.
Israel’s aid and assistance to Thailand is implemented by MASHAV - Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation. MASHAV has shared Israeli knowledge and expertise, with more than 130 countries, including Thailand. Over the years, MASHAV has trained over 1,000 Thai professionals in various fields.