On March 11th, Dr. Ritter Díaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, had the opportunity to participate in the decoration ceremony for Mr. Junichiro Ikeda, Chairman of the Board of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd (MOL), and Mr. Toshifumi Akimoto, President of the Japan Firefighters Association, at the Official Residence of the Paraguayan Ambassador.

The ceremony was presided over by His Excellency, Raúl Florentín, Ambassador of Paraguay, who awarded the National Order of Excellence, Don José Falcon, in recognition of the remarkable contribution of the Japan Firefighters Association and MOL to strengthen the firefighting equipment of Paraguay’s fire departments.

Furthermore, the ceremony featured the distinguished presence of H.E. Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay, who was conducting an official visit to Japan.

It is important to highlight that the Japan Firefighters Association has made donations of firefighting vehicles and ambulances to several fire departments in Paraguay. Additionally, MOL has facilitated maritime transportation of firefighting equipment with a significant discount, given MOL’s important commercial relations with the Republic of Paraguay.

Dr. Díaz took the opportunity to congratulate both distinguished individuals, particularly Mr. Junichiro Ikeda, President of MOL, with whom Dr. Díaz had an excellent working relationship during his tenure as Ambassador of Panama in Japan, as MOL maintains a significant number of vessels registered under the Panamanian flag.

This generous support will have a significant impact on the capacity of several fire departments in Paraguay to combat fires, respond to medical emergencies, and provide greater security to the general population.

 

Dr. Ritter Diaz, the Representative Director of JAPOLAC, attended a welcome reception hosted by the Embassy of Jamaica on the occasion of the participation of Jamaican companies at FOODEX JAPAN 2024.

Her Excellency Shorna-Kay Richards, Ambassador of Jamaica, noted that this was the second time Jamaican companies had participated in FOODEX JAPAN, expressing gratitude to all organizations involved in supporting their presence at this significant food fair.

Alongside Jamaican companies, the event saw the attendance of representatives from Japanese companies, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Ministry of Economy and Trade of Japan, the Jamaica Tourism Board, among others.

Ambassador Richards also extended her appreciation to JAPOLAC for furnishing Jamaican exporters with essential insights into the Japanese market, aiding in their preparation for participation at FOODEX JAPAN 2024.

Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, attended FOODEX JAPAN 2024 with the aim of connecting with representatives from Latin American and Caribbean companies looking to introduce their products into the Japanese market.

During the event, Dr. Diaz held meetings with representatives from the Trade Promotion Agency of Costa Rica (PROCOMER) and the Bolivian National Exporters Association to explain the JAPOLAC activities to support small and medium-sized companies in Latin America and the Caribbean interested in entering the Japanese market.

The Latin American and Caribbean region was well represented at the event, with companies from Costa Rica, Jamaica, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, and Colombia in attendance.

One of JAPOLAC’s primary objectives is to facilitate trade between Japan and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, with a particular focus on promoting small and medium-sized enterprises.

FOODEX is Japan’s largest food fair and took place from March 6 to 8, 2024.

 

On March 2nd, the closing ceremony for the sixth short online program, organized by Panama Technological University for students of Chiba University, took place, with the support of the Japan Association for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC).

During the ceremony, Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, extended congratulations to the administration and professors of Panama Technological University, as well as to the students, professors, and staff at Chiba University, for the successful completion of the program. Dr. Diaz highlighted that despite English not being their native language, the students embraced the opportunity to delve into Panama’s history, its canal, logistics, and nature, broadening their horizons beyond the confines of Japan. Their immersion in Panamanian culture, history, and society has been truly enriching, fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.

Dr. Diaz also emphasized the integration of digital tools and processes into the fabric of education, both locally and internationally, offering a more cost-effective avenue for universities, professors, and students to engage in academic pursuits at the international level. He commended Chiba University and Panama Technological University for their enduring partnership and announced the forthcoming seventh online program in Summer 2024.

The closing ceremony also featured the distinguished presence of His Excellency Carlos Pere, Ambassador of Panama to Japan; Honorable Ms. Armonia Chang, Deputy Director of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama; Dr. Hiroaki Ozawa, Vice-President for Education at Chiba University; and Mrs. Mabel Del Cid, Director of International Relations at Panama Technological University.

The short online programs are closely coordinated by JAPOLAC. The courses are meticulously designed to impart practical knowledge to students through digital platforms, with the primary objective of inspiring them to explore further educational opportunities in Latin American and Caribbean countries. They also provide an excellent opportunity for students to immerse themselves in international communication. In essence, these programs serve as a remarkable example of international academic cooperation, delivering value-added education to Japanese students.

In Tokyo, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) organized a seminar focused on Cuban small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In her welcoming address, Her Excellency Gisela Garcia, the Cuban Ambassador, expressed her gratitude to JICA for fostering Cuban SMEs’ awareness in Japan.

During the seminar, representatives from pertinent Cuban governmental institutions explained the new regulatory framework governing SMEs. These regulations, enacted in August 2001, encompass private, public-private, and state-owned properties. Notably, as of November 2023, over 9,000 SMEs have received authorization.

This seminar forms an important component of JICA’s invitation program, aimed at enhancing policy development capabilities to boost SMEs growth in Cuba.

Dr. Ritter Diaz conveyed his gratitude to the Cuban Embassy and representatives from JICA for the invitation to the seminar. He emphasized that one of the objectives of JAPOLAC is to foster collaboration among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from Japan, Latin America, and the Caribbean to strengthen economic ties between these regions. Dr. Diaz underscored the vital importance of SMEs, which account for over 70 percent of the national economy, emphasizing their pivotal role in generating employment opportunities and nurturing economic development.