Author: metropolis
JAPOLAC Participates in FOODEX JAPAN 2023
Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC participated in FOODEX JAPAN 2023 by invitation of Ms. Blanca Kato, Japan Business Development Executive of the Costa Rica trade promotion agency, PROCOMER.
At the booth of PROCOMER, Ms. Kato explained Dr. Diaz the export offer of Costa Rica, which included gourmet coffee, frozen pineapple, juices, among others.
Dr. Diaz also held meetings with the presidents of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the Bolivian National Exporters Association to explain the trade facilitating activities of JAPOLAC to support small and medium size companies of Latin America and the Caribbean interested in the Japanese market.
In addition, Dr. Diaz met with company representatives from Costa Rica, Jamaica, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay to explain the role of JAPOLAC to identify, analyze, select and recommend Latin American and Caribbean products with good potential for the Japanese market.
One of the objectives of JAPOLAC is trade facilitation between Japan and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean focusing on the promotion of small and medium size companies.
FOODEX is the largest food fair held in Japan and took place from March 7 to 10, 2023.
Working Meeting with the Embassy of the Dominican Republic
Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, held a working meeting with H.E. Robert Takata, Ambassador of Dominican Republic, to request the cooperation of the Embassy of Dominican Republic to celebrate the next JAPOLAC event showcasing the music, dance, food and tourism of Dominican Republic.
H.E. Robert Takata expressed his support for the celebration of the event titled “Rhythms of the Caribbean: The Magic of Dominican Republic” to be held on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at Hamamatsuchokan, Tokyo City Port Takeshiba.
Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, also explained Ambassador Takata about a scholarship program to invite talented high schools from Latin America and the Caribbean to Japan.
Ambassador Takata showed interest in the program and confirmed the cooperation of the Embassy to identify talented students from Dominican Republic to participate in the said program.
Courtesy Visit to the Ambassador of Cuba
Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Miguel A. Ramirez, Ambassador of Cuba to express his gratitude for the support of the Embassy of Cuba in the successful celebration of the event “Rhythms of the Caribbean: The Charm of Cuba” held on February 4, 2023, to promote Cuban culture.
During the meeting, Ambassador Ramirez also expressed his thankfulness to Dr. Diaz for the donation carried out by JAPOLAC to support the education of economically vulnerable people in Cuba. Part of the funds raised in JAPOLAC’s cultural events are allocated to social welfare activities of the country theme of the event.
In addition, Dr. Diaz exchanged views with Ambassador Ramirez regarding the possibility of academic and research cooperation between Japan and Cuba in the area of medicine due to the high level of advancement of Cuba in the medical field.
JAPOLAC also promotes academic exchanges between Japanese and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) universities, and in this regard, relies on the cooperation of the LAC embassies to identify universities interested in fostering academic links with Japan.
JAPOLAC Organized the Cultural Event “Rhythms of the Caribbean: The Charm of Cuba”
On February 4, 2023, JAPOLAC held the cultural event “Rhythms of the Caribbean: The Charm of Cuba” at Port Studio Takeshiba in the heart of Tokyo.
During the opening remarks, Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, expressed his gratitude to all participants for attending the event despite the persistent risks of the ongoing pandemic.
Dr. Diaz pointed out that JAPOLAC seeks to create a cultural and social space to nurture bonds of friendship between Japan and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
H.E. Miguel A. Ramirez, Ambassador of Cuba to Japan delivered greetings remarks conveying his thankfulness to JAPOLAC for creating cultural linkages between Japan, Cuba and the Caribbean region.
Mr. Kiyoshi Kimura, Honorary Director of JAPOLAC and President of Kiyomura Corporation, made a toast to the health of the attendees and the expansion of cultural ties and friendship between Japan and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
This is the second of a series of cultural events called “Rhythms of the Caribbean” to promote music, dance, food and tourism of the Caribbean countries. The first event took place in October last year to display the culture of Jamaica.
On this occasion, the event was designed to showcase music, dance, food and tourism of Cuba.
Through these events, JAPOLAC also aims at strengthening cultural identities of the region in the mind of Japanese people by highlighting iconic aspects of Latin American and Caribbean countries.
Over 100 persons attended the event including ambassadors from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Venezuela and the Vice Consul of the Embassy of Jamaica on behalf of the ambassador.
The event was supported by the companies Kiyomura Corporation (Sushi Zanmai), Japan Partnership Holdings, Saza Coffee, Unidos, Co. Ltd (KYODAI) and Sukoruni Wine, Co. Ltd., Pernod Ricard (Havana Club), Ricoh (31 Country Club) and Gaku Sugiyama Associates.
