Keio University conferred Honorary Degree of Doctor upon Dr. Tarisa Watanagase, Governor of the Bank of Thailand

The Ceremony to Confer the degree of Doctor of Economics honoris causa upon Dr. Tarisa Watanagase, Governor of the Bank of Thailand, was held on 2 May 2007 starting at 3:00 p.m. at the Public Speaking Hall of Mita campus.

The memorable ceremony, presided by Professor Sahoko Kaji of the Faculty of Economics, proceeded with citation by Professor Shuhei Shiozawa, Dean of the Faculty of Economics. President Yuichiro Anzai conferred the Diploma and made a congratulatory address. This was followed by an Acceptance Statement by Dr. Tarisa Watanagase. After the ceremony, the Governor made a memorial speech.

After graduating from high school in Thailand, Dr. Tarisa Watanagase came to Japan in 1970 to join second year level of the Faculty of Economics at Keio University. She graduated in 1973, and continued with her studies at Graduate School of Economics at Keio to obtain a master's degree. She joined the Bank of Thailand in 1975 and played an important role as an economist at the research department. In 1988, she obtained her Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Washington, U.S.A.. On 8 November 2006, she became the first female to be appointed Governor of the Bank of Thailand, and has contributed to further economic developments in Thailand.

Since the Declaration of Amity and Commerce was signed between Japan and Siam in 1887, Japan and Thailand will witness the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year. The relations of the two countries have become more and more important as economic partners. At the same time, many people in Thailand share a sense of affinity for the Japanese, and there have been many of the best and the brightest students coming to Japan to study. As of May 2006, 22 students from Thailand study at Keio University.