Mr.Anand and Kenan Institute Asia

"The private sector must play a major role in the new development relationship with the United States"
Anand Panyarachun at the inaugural Phillips Initiative Address at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1995

     Mr. Anand Panyarachun, the former Prime Minister of Thailand, became the first chairman of the Kenan Institute Asia in 1994. At the press conference to announce his chairmanship on December 6, he endorsed the work of the Institute in addressing issues of importance to Thailand's and Asia's development through partnership with the U.S. This partnership model aims provides a valuable alternative to the traditional donor-recipient relationship by supporting mutually beneficial ventures that advance regional development.

     The Kenan Institute Asia (KIAsia) was formally established as an independent, non-government, Thai non-profit foundation with an endowment provided by the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust and Fund, Thailand's Department of Technical and Economic Cooperation (DTEC), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

     As the founding chairman, Khun Anand has played a pivotal role in shaping the institute and in developing programs that act in practical ways to create strong linkages between Asia and the U.S. based on true development needs and mutual benefit. Projects typically develop cooperation among universities, government, and the private sector.

     In its initial years, Khun Anand, a former Thai ambassador to the United States, led the way in creating partnerships between Thai and U.S. companies, government agencies, and organizations. The focus was initially on the areas of environment and public health under the U.S.-Thai Development Partnership program (USTDP). KIAsia played a vital role in addressing important environmental issues during years of economic prosperity in Thailand. When the economic crisis hit Thailand in 1997, KIAsia promptly found ways to support Thailand, working first with the private sector. In early1998, the American Corporations for Thailand (ACT) program was launched under the co-chairmanship of Khun Anand and Dr. Henry Kissinger, with donations totaling more than $1.1 million from U.S. companies to support Thai training institutions and retraining programs for the unemployed.

     In the Year 2000, KIAsia took on larger development tasks with funding support from USAID under the regional program, Accelerating Economic Recovery in Asia program. In a unique experiment, control of the AERA program in Thailand rests with a majority Thai Steering Committee chaired by Khun Anand. The AERA program through several key projects is designed to help Thailand towards economic recovery, reform and sustainable growth. Key activities include a business consulting service for SMEs, training programs for the banking sector, assistance for Thai organizations supporting good governance, labor standard development, and human resource development through IT. Most recently, KIAsia has set up an office in Hanoi and begun environmental and business support programs in Vietnam.

     Today, under the chairmanship of Mr. Anand Panyarachun, KIAsia continues to expand its activities in providing assistance to Thailand and Asia.

     For further information on the Kenan Institute Asia, please visit its website at www.kiasia.org.

Pictures:

Picture 1: Mr. Anand seen with the Kenan Institute Asia's Board of Trustees at the KIAsia Annual Reception

Picture 2: The American Corporations for Thailand donors brief Mr. Anand Panyarachun and Dr. Henry Kissinger, ACT co-chairmen, on ACT's second year results.

Picture 3: Mr. Anand taken picture with alumni of the Kenan-Flagler Business School (KFBS), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at a KFBS alumni reception organized by the Kenan Institute Asia.

	Timeline: October 1993 The signing of an Memorandum of Understanding between Thai Deputy Prime Minister Amnuay Viravan and U.S. Vice President Al Gore for a three-year U.S. - Thai partnership program February 4, 1994 the Partnership program officially launched by the then Minister of the Prime Minister's office, Dr. Chinnawoot soonthornsima 1994 The Kenan Institute Asia (KIAsia) established at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. The first partnership grant is awarded under the U.S.-Thailand Development Partnership (USTD) program December 6, 1994 KIAsia Press Conference to announce the acceptance of the Institute's chairmanship of Mr. Anand Panyarachun 1996 Kenan Foundation Asia is registered as a Thai non-profit development foundation and holds its first Board of Trustees meeting. 1998 American Corporation for Thailand is established under the co-chairmanship of Mr. Anand Panyarachun and Dr. Henry Kissinger 1999 KIAsia named as managers of the Thailand portion of the U.S. government program "Accelerating Economic Recovery in Asia" and Mr. Anand Panyarachun named chairman of the AERA Steering Committee 2000 KIAsia implements the first year of the AERA program and receives commitment from USAID to continue the program through 2002