ASEAN NCAP will organize its next big event in Bangkok, Thailand in collaboration with the Automotive Safety and Assessment Engineering Program (ASAE) of the Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering (TGGS). TGGS, which is a faculty of King Mongkut University of Technology North Bangkok focusing on industrial-oriented engineering education concept based on RWTH-Aachen University model, has been actively involved in ASEAN NCAP initiative through the participation of its representatives in the Technical Committee (TC).
This event will be the second ASEAN Automobile Safety Forum series (AASF 002/2014), after its inaugural event was successfully held during the ASEAN NCAP Grand Prix Award in Kuching, Sarawak in August this year. This two-day event, on 1st and 2nd December 2014, will start with the parallel technical sessions on the first day that will be divided into four ASEAN NCAP technical dialogues (based on the working groups), together with the media coaching and communications technical dialogue.
ASEAN NCAP Secretary-General, Mr. Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim said, “We had received overwhelming interest from the OEMs and the automotive suppliers, and we are expecting around 200 participants including representatives from the governments and universities. Our partners from other NCAP organizations also will join us in Bangkok to share their experience with the locals.”
Co-host from TGGS, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saiprasit Koetniyom, the Head of Mechanical Engineering Department, added, “The media coaching will be conducted in Thai language, and hopefully by doing this they can get better understanding on ASEAN NCAP safety rating initiative. Other than media and academia group, we have extended the invitation to government related departments such as the Department of Land Transport, Thai Health Promotion Foundation, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, the Consumer Protection Board and also the public.”
Dr. Saiprasit is also thankful to Dr. Julaluk Carmai, the Coordinator of ASAE program, and her team for tireless preparation of this first major event of ASEAN NCAP outside Malaysia. He added, “We have translated and edited the result handbook into Thai language. I personally hope that Thai road users and consumers will realize the importance of safer cars and this will create the unanimous force to ensure safe cars in Thailand are sold at affordable prices. We will also organize a special press conference for child safety, and we hope that the upcoming New Year holiday will be a good start for Thai road users to use child seats and install them correctly.”
On another note, ASEAN NCAP Chairman, Prof. Dr. Wong Shaw Voon who is also the Director-General of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) said, “We are hoping for positive result from this event, and we have to emphasize that the consumer purchasing power is able to change the situation by supporting ASEAN NCAP initiative. Thailand will be the second country in ASEAN NCAP’s strategic plan, before we move to Indonesia next year and Vietnam in 2016.”
He added, “We’re also looking forward to strengthen the support for ASEAN NCAP through various partnerships, and this time around we will witness the signing ceremony between ASEAN NCAP and RAAT (Royal Automobile Association of Thailand), and also with AA Cambodia (Automobile Association of Cambodia). The other good news is we will announce another result of ASEAN NCAP for the last quarter this year, and this car will be the first one with the perfect score in AOP (Adult Occupant Protection; 16 points max) as well as the first car to achieve 5-Star COP (Child Occupant Protection) in our history.”
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