On September 28, 2021, took place the closing ceremony of the first short online program between Chiba University and the Panama Technological University.

The short online program is part of JAPOLAC’s Program for University Internationalization, which seeks to introduce practical and distinctive knowledge of Latin American and Caribbean countries (LAC) to Japanese university students, encouraging them to visit and study in the LAC region.

The three-week short-summer online program included courses such as a brief history of Panama and its Canal, Panama as Logistic Hub, Basic Spanish and Forest Engineer in the Central American Tropics.

Japanese students did not only learn practical knowledge about Panama, but also were able to put in practice their international communication skills as all courses were taught in English language, except basic Spanish. One participant Japanese student said, “it seems English and Spanish look similar, but Spanish sounds are closer to Japanese”.

The closing ceremony counted on the participation of the President of the Panama Technological University, Mr. Hector Montemayor, and the Vice-President for Education and International Affairs of the University of Chiba, Mr. Makoto Watanabe. It also counted on the honorable presence of H.E. Carlos Pere, Ambassador of Panama to Japan and H.E. Takashi Owaki, Ambassador of Japan to Panama, as well as Mrs. Itza Broce, Acting Director of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Panama.

The Director Representative of JAPOLAC, Dr. Ritter Diaz, expressed his gratitude to Chiba University and the Panama Technological University for joining the Program of University Internationalization, which will create greater knowledge and connection between students of Japan and the countries of LAC.

JAPOLAC aims at promoting practical educational exchanges between Japan and LAC as well as connecting universities with productive forces of society to better prepare students for a changing labor market.

The Japan Association for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC) organized a virtual meeting between the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) and the University of Chiba, with the purpose of knowing the advances of the Research Center for Production of Agriculture in Controlled Environment (CIPAC in Spanish), recently established in Panama, and the development of Blockchain in the agricultural sector of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

The meeting counted on the participation of Dr. Gerardo Escudero, IICA’s Representative in Panama, who explained the organization’s activities in the region of Latin American and Caribbean as well as its role in the implementation of CIPAC.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. David Proenza, President of the Foundation for Development of Agriculture in a Controlled Environment and CEO of Foodchain, who carried out a presentation on the development of Blockchain technology in the agricultural sector of LAC.

Dr. Michiko Takagaki, Director of the Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, and Dr. Lu Na, participated in representation of Chiba University.

Dr. Takagaki expressed her thankfulness for the information on the progress of CIPAC, which emerged from the academic exchanges between Chiba University and the Universities of Panama and Technological University of Panama. She also thanked for the information on the development of Blockchain in the agricultural sector of the LAC region.

JAPOLAC counted on the participation of Dr. Ritter Díaz, Representative Director of the Association and Ms. Martha Zelayandía, former Ambassador of El Salvador in Japan and Honorary Member of JAPOLAC, in charge of international exchange programs.

One of the objectives of JAPOLAC is the promotion of new technologies in the agricultural sector of LAC such as Controlled Environment Agriculture and Blockchain, with the purpose of improving the working conditions of farmers in the region and ensuring greater food security.

The Japanese Association for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC) organized a virtual meeting to introduce the Embassy of Colombia in Japan to Chiba University, with the purpose of promoting academic exchanges between Chiba University and Colombian universities.

Representing the Embassy of Colombia were H.E. Santiago Pardo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Colombia and the Second Secretary María Claudia Vélez, while Chiba University counted on the participation of Dr. Makoto Watanabe, Executive Vice President of Education, Student and International Affairs, Dr. Michiko Takagaki, Director of the Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Mr. Kiyoshi Takao, Deputy Director of the Department of International Affairs and Ms. Satoko Jumi, Head of the Department of International Affairs.

The University of Chiba carried out a presentation of the university to Ambassador Pardo, who expressed his gratitude for this first meeting, aimed at expanding academic exchanges between Japanese and Colombian universities.

JAPOLAC was represented by Dr. Ritter Díaz, Representative Director of the Association and Ms. Martha Zelayandía, former Ambassador of El Salvador in Japan and Honorary Member of the Association, in charge of international exchange programs.

One of the objectives of JAPOLAC is the promotion of academic exchanges between Japanese and Latin American and Caribbean universities, as well as the creation of an academic and research network between Japan and LAC.

On September 9, Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC held a virtual meeting with Mrs. Celia Labora, Director of International Affairs of the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba to explain the objectives and activities of JAPOLAC and explore ways to cooperate in the promotion of Cuban products in the Japanese market.

The meeting was organized by the Embassy of Cuba in Japan, which was represented by Mrs. Katia Monzon, Commercial Counsellor of the Cuban Mission.

On the following day, Dr. Ritter Diaz, together with Mr. Hirokazu Yamaguchi, Managing Director of JAPOLAC held a meeting with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tokyo-Japan to explain the objectives and activities of the Association.

One of the activities of JAPOLAC is the promotion of small and medium size Japanese companies interested in the Latin American and Caribbean market.

Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC held a meeting with top representatives of ITO EN Ltd, a well-established Japanese beverage company dedicated to manufacturing and sales of tea and other healthy beverages. ITO EN is Japan’s largest green tea distributor and the country’s fourth largest soft drink producer.

Dr. Diaz explained the objectives and activities of JAPOLAC and expressed his support for the introduction of ITO EN products, especially Japanese tea, in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Dr. Diaz was also accompanied by Mr. Neil Butler, President of Japan Partnership Holding, who is also an Advisor and Member of JAPOLAC.

ITO EN representatives explained the company’s product portfolio and look forward to identifying future business opportunities in the region of LAC.

One of the main activities of JAPOLAC is business facilitation for Japanese and LAC companies interested in introducing their products in the market of the other.