Mae Fah Luang University Hosts Special Lecture on Growth of India over the Last Decade

On 24 July 2026, Mae Fah Luang University (MFU), led by the Global Relations Division in collaboration with the Consulate of India in Chiang Mai, organised a special lecture titled "Growth of India over the Last Decade – From Fragility to Frontier Power" as part of its Global Perspective series. Over 100 participants from the MFU community and various organisations across Chiang Rai attended the event.

The Global Perspective series was initiated to broaden the horizons of MFU staff, students, and the local Chiang Rai community through direct engagement with international leaders. The event was presided over by Asst. Prof. Dr.Romyen Kosaikanont, Vice President of Mae Fah Laung University, who delivered welcome remarks. The university was honoured to welcome Mr. Pranav Ganesh, Consul of India in Chiang Mai, as a keynote speaker. Mr. Ganesh brings over 20 years of extensive experience working in the Ministry of External Affairs of India, having been posted to Embassies and Consulates General in various countries around the world. 

This lecture aimed to provide expert insights into India’s multi-dimensional transformation over the last 12 years on its path to becoming the world's 5th largest economy. Key topics included the nation’s success in decoupling economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions, as well as its digital public infrastructure driving financial democratisation. Highlighted initiatives included the Jan Dhan Yojana (financial inclusion campaign), Aadhaar (India's biometric digital identity programme), and expanded mobile connectivity—all of which paved the way for the government's Direct Benefit Transfer system. He also highlighted the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), an open-source public good that enables instantaneous, mobile-to-mobile bank transfers.

To facilitate the seamless movement of people and goods, physical infrastructure developments are being structurally synchronised across national highways, airports, railways, semi-high-speed trains, and maritime networks. Moreover, the Indian government recently approved the comprehensive IndiaAI Mission, allocating over $1.2 billion to build a robust, democratized AI ecosystem where AI is deployed at the grassroots level to revolutionize agriculture, healthcare, and language inclusion.

Furthermore, the Consul of India emphasised the high-value bilateral opportunities aligning India’s "Act East" and Thailand’s "Look West" policies. These include the Trilateral Highway, UPI-PromptPay integration, and linking India's LiFE movement with Thailand's BCG Economic Model. He also pointed out the opportunities for future technological collaboration between Thailand and India, particularly in joint research, centres of excellence, and innovation in agricultural biotechnology, AI, natural language processing, and disaster management.

By offering deep insights into India’s unique strengths and strategic focus, this initiative served as a platform for meaningful academic exchanges and the development of sustainable partnerships. Ultimately, the event reflects MFU’s unwavering commitment to fostering global citizenship and facilitating sustainable international partnerships for its students, staff, and the wider community.