Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of the Japan Association for Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC) held a meeting with H.E. Ricardo G. Rojas, Ambassador of the Republic of Chile to explain the objectives and activities of the Association.

Ambassador Rojas expressed his thankfulness for the visit and introduction of the Association. He also informed that Chile and Japan will be celebrating 125 years of diplomatic relations next year and would appreciate the support of the Association to disseminate information on this important celebration.

Dr. Diaz reiterated the best disposition of the Association to support the activities of the Embassy of Chile in Japan, and particularly the celebration of 125 years of diplomatic ties with Japan.

The meeting was also attended by Mrs. Martha Zelayandia, Honorary Member of the Association, Mr. Ricardo Gonzalez, Commercial Director and Mr. Neil Butler, Member and Advisor of the Association.

Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of the Japan Association for Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC), together with Mrs. Martha Zelayandia, former Ambassador of El Salvador, held a virtual meeting with representatives of Niigata University of Health and Welfare to explain the objectives and activities of the Association.

The Niigata University of Health and Welfare was represented by Dr. Masayoshi Kubo, Director of the International Exchange Center, and Mrs. Noriko Akiho-Toyoda, Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Social Welfare.

During the meeting, Dr. Kubo conveyed the interest of Niigata University of Health and Welfare to expand exchanges with universities and institutions of LAC in the area of caregiving and interprofessional education.

Dr. Diaz expressed his gratitude to Dr. Kubo for the meeting and reiterated the interest of JAPOLAC to cooperate with the Niigata University of Health and Welfare to expand academic ties with LAC universities.

On November 5, Dr. Ritter Díaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC held a meeting with Mr. Yuichiro Kimoto, President & CEO of Unidos Co., Ltd. (Kyodai), with the purposed of explaining the objectives and activities of the Association.

Dr. Díaz indicated that, since June, the Association began contacts with companies and business associations in Japan and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), aimed at facilitating communication between companies in both regions, giving priority to small and medium-sized enterprises.

President Kimoto explained about the commercial activities of Kyodai, which has contributed for more than 20 years to the introduction of Latin American products in the Japanese market. Kyodai has also positioned itself as a major remittance company to the LAC region, supporting Latin American workers living in Japan.

Dr. Diaz and President Kimoto expressed their interest in exploring ways to collaborate to increase trade between both regions.

On October 4, Dr. Ritter Díaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, held a meeting with Mr. Fernando Albareda, Commercial Counselor of PromPeru, with the purpose of explaining the activities and objectives of the Association and explore ways to collaborate with PromPeru in the area of business facilitation between Japan and the Republic of Peru.

The Commercial Counselor expressed his thankfulness for the presentation of JAPOLAC and expressed his interest to collaborate with the Association to support the work of commercial promotion of PromPeru in Japan.

Dr. Díaz pointed out that PromPeru will be an important channel of commercial communication to identify Peruvian companies with the capacity and quality to export to the demanding Japanese market.

PromPeru is Peru’s government agency dedicated to the promotion of exports, investments, tourism and the country’s image.

On September 30, 2021, members and directors of JAPOLAC participated in the opening of the new office of JAPOLAC, located near the old Tsukiji market, in the district of Chuo, Tokyo.

In line with the new digital era, the new office is equipped with a room and large screen to conduct meetings online within and outside Japan.

Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC expressed his thankfulness to members and directors for their support, pointing out that the new office will function as an important point of meeting and communication between Japan and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.