Dr. Ritter Díaz, Representative Director of the Japan Association for Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC), participated in the “IDB for the Americas: Business Opportunities for Japanese Companies in the LAC Market” seminar, organized by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance of Japan.
This high-level event brought together senior government officials, financial experts, and business leaders to analyze investment opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and to strengthen economic cooperation between Japan and the region.

During the seminar, Dr. Díaz expressed his sincere appreciation to Mr. Taro Seriu, Representative of the IDB Office in Tokyo, for the kind invitation and for IDB’s continued efforts to enhance Japanese investment in the LAC region. He also reaffirmed JAPOLAC’s commitment to supporting initiatives that foster sustainable economic growth and promote mutually beneficial partnerships between Japan and LAC countries.
The seminar featured a keynote speech by IDB President Ilan Goldfajn, who presented a detailed analysis of economic trends, key growth sectors, and strategic investment opportunities available for Japanese businesses in the LAC market.

Additionally, Mr. James Scriven, CEO of IDB Invest, introduced IDB Invest’s innovative business model, highlighting financing mechanisms designed to strengthen private sector engagement in the region. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) also contributed to the discussion, emphasizing its role in enhancing LAC-Japan relations and supporting Japanese enterprises through investment and financing programs.

One of the main objectives of JAPOLAC is to promote trade exchanges between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Japan and Latin America and the Caribbean, facilitating economic expansion and sustainable business cooperation between both regions.

Dr. Ritter Díaz, Director Representative of JAPOLAC, participated in the commemoration of the National Day of the Dominican Republic.

During this significant event, Dr. Díaz conveyed his most sincere congratulations to H.E. Robert Takata, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic. In his speech, Ambassador Takata highlighted the excellent bilateral relations between Japan and the Dominican Republic, emphasizing the importance of continuing to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and friendship between both nations.

The gathering brought together high government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives from the private sector, and distinguished figures from Japan’s social and cultural spheres.

One of JAPOLAC’s objectives is to support the work of the embassies of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to strengthen cultural and educational ties between Japan and the countries of the LAC region.

In this regard, last year, JAPOLAC coordinated a tasting event featuring an iconic dish of the Dominican Republic in collaboration with Kura Sushi, as part of the promotional activities for Expo Osaka 2025. This initiative highlighted the rich culinary tradition of the Dominican Republic, contributing to greater awareness of Dominican culture among the Japanese people.

Dr. Díaz was accompanied by Mr. Ajoy Sinha Roy and Mr. Neil Butler, Directors of JAPOLAC, together with their wives.

It is worth noting that the Embassy of the Dominican Republic is an honorary member of JAPOLAC.

Dr. Ritter Díaz, Representative Director of the Japan Association for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC), facilitated a meeting between H.E. Walter Cohen, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, and Mr. Seiichiro Eto, former President of the Panama-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League. Held at the Parliament Office Building, the meeting provided an opportunity to establish a direct connection between the Embassy of Panama and the Parliamentary League, with the objective of further strengthening parliamentary diplomacy between both nations.

The Panama-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League plays a pivotal role in fostering dialogue and cooperation between lawmakers from both countries, serving as a platform to advance economic, cultural, and diplomatic collaboration. Through regular exchanges and discussions, the League has contributed to deepening mutual understanding and promoting shared interests between Panama and Japan.

During the meeting, Ambassador Cohen expressed his deep appreciation to Mr. Eto for his unwavering support of the Panama-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League and reiterated Panama’s commitment to strengthening ties between Japanese and Panamanian parliamentarians.
Mr. Eto, who served as President of the League for a period of 10 years, recognized the historic and strong friendship between both nations, reaffirming the League’s dedication to supporting initiatives that strengthen diplomatic and economic cooperation.

Likewise, he committed to coordinating a meeting between the Ambassador of Panama and the newly appointed President of the League in order to continue promoting initiatives that reinforce the strategic partnership between Japan and Panama.

Dr. Ritter Díaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC and former Ambassador of Panama to Japan, conveyed his gratitude to Mr. Eto for his longstanding commitment to deepening diplomatic ties between the two countries. He also underscored the importance of sustained parliamentary engagement in fostering bilateral cooperation.

The Embassy of Panama is an honorary member of JAPOLAC, and this meeting aligns with JAPOLAC’s broader efforts to support the work of Latin American and Caribbean embassies in Japan to strengthen cooperation through parliamentary diplomacy.

The Representative Director of the Japan Association for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC), Dr. Ritter Díaz, held a meeting with Mrs. Silvia Marcucci, Director of International Promotion of ProPanama, the Panama Trade Promotion Agency, to discuss JAPOLAC’s trade facilitation activities and explore avenues for cooperation to further strengthen economic ties between Japan and Panama.

During the meeting, Dr. Díaz provided an overview of JAPOLAC’s initiatives in fostering trade, investment, and business collaboration between Japanese and Panama enterprises. He highlighted JAPOLAC’s role in facilitating business networking, market access strategies, and academic partnerships to enhance bilateral cooperation.

Mrs. Marcucci shared insights on ProPanama’s efforts to promote Panama as a strategic hub for trade and investment, emphasizing the country’s logistical advantages, business-friendly environment, and emerging sectors for economic growth. She underscored ProPanama’s commitment to supporting Panamanian businesses in expanding their reach to the Japanese market and enhancing cooperation with Japanese stakeholders.

Both parties recognized the potential for collaboration in trade missions, investment forums, and business matchmaking initiatives aimed at fostering mutually beneficial economic engagement. They agreed to explore joint promotional activities that align with the interests of both organizations.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to enhancing trade and investment relations between Japan and Panama, leveraging JAPOLAC’s network and expertise in Japan and ProPanama’s strategic trade initiatives.

The Director of the Japan Association for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC), Dr. Ritter Díaz, held a meeting with the CEO of DEVNET, Mr. Fumiyasu Akegawa, to explore practical avenues for enhancing cooperation between Japan and Latin America and the Caribbean.

The discussions underscored the importance of collaboration in trade facilitation, particularly in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to access new opportunities in Japan and the region of Latin America and the Caribbean.

During the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to fostering economic development and building sustainable partnerships that will yield mutual benefits for Japan and the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Dr. Díaz elaborated on JAPOLAC’s role as an important platform for information exchange, communication, and networking, facilitating trade, international education, and cultural exchange between Japan and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Mr. Akegawa highlighted DEVNET’s mission to advance international development through collaborative projects. He noted that DEVNET’s extensive global network is dedicated to fostering sustainable development solutions, leveraging technological innovation, and supporting entrepreneurship to create lasting socio-economic impact.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to further explore specific projects that align with the strategic objectives of both organizations.

About DEVNET

DEVNET Japan is a branch of DEVNET International, a United Nations-affiliated non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to promoting sustainable development and international cooperation.