Celebration of the National Day of the Dominican Republic and the 90th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the Dominican Republic and Japan

Dr. Ritter Díaz, Director Representative, participated in the commemoration of the National Day of the Dominican Republic and the 90th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Dominican Republic and Japan.

During this significant event, Dr. Díaz conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to H.E. Robert Takata, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic. 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 sphere.

Recently, Japan and the Dominican Republic signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the development of transportation infrastructure, industries, and water desalination projects. In this regard, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry of Japan has financed a feasibility study for Line 3 of the Santo Domingo Metro and has expressed its intention to participate in this infrastructure project.

It is noteworthy that last year JAPOLAC hosted a cultural event to showcase food, music, dance, and products from the Dominican Republic with the cooperation of the Dominican diplomatic mission.

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

First Edition of the Foreign Direct Investment Costa Rica Summit 2024

The Embassy of Costa Rica in Japan has announced the upcoming First Edition of the Foreign Direct Investment Costa Rica Summit 2024 (FDI Summit), organized by the Trade Promotion Agency (PROCOMER) of Costa Rica, and scheduled to take place on June 11 and 12 at the Costa Rica Convention Center.

The objective of the First Edition of the FDI Summit is to offer a comprehensive perspective on the investment opportunities in Costa Rica, as well as to present the country’s value proposition, tax incentive regime, and the favorable conditions that can benefit investors.

For more details and registration, please visit the following website: https://investincr.com/en/event/#fdi-summit

Courtesy Visit to the Ambassador of Guatemala

Dr. Ritter Diaz, the Representative Director of the Japan Association for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC), recently paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency Manuel Roldan, the new Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala.

During the meeting, Dr. Diaz provided Ambassador Roldan with an overview of JAPOLAC’s objectives and ongoing activities, underscoring the significance of fostering practical exchanges between Japan and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Ambassador Roldan warmly welcomed the visit and expressed his gratitude for the introduction to the Association. He further elaborated on the objectives of his diplomatic mission, emphasizing the important goal of strengthening relations between Guatemala and Japan. Notably, he seeks to foster cooperation from Japan in key sectors such as public transportation and anti-seismic technologies.

Among JAPOLAC’s core objectives is the support for the endeavours of Latin American and Caribbean embassies (LAC) in Japan, aimed at enhancing the awareness of LAC culture throughout Japan.

Accompanying Dr. Diaz were senior directors of JAPOLAC, Mr. Ajoy Sinha Roy and Mr. Neil Butler.

Courtesy Visit to the Ambassador of Honduras

Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of the Japan Association for Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC), paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency Harold Burgos, Ambassador of the Republic of Honduras.

During the meeting, Dr. Diaz provided Ambassador Burgos with an overview of JAPOLAC’s objectives and activities, emphasizing the importance of practical exchanges between Japan and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Specifically, they discussed collaborations in education, cultural promotion, and facilitating business opportunities for small and medium-sized companies.

Dr. Diaz extended an invitation to the Embassy of Honduras to become an honorary member of JAPOLAC, aiming to enhance awareness of the Republic of Honduras in Japan.

Ambassador Burgos expressed his appreciation for the visit and the introduction to the Association, demonstrating keen interest in JAPOLAC’s activities. He mentioned his intention to consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Honduras to explore potential avenues of collaboration with the Association.

Accompanying Dr. Diaz were senior directors of JAPOLAC, Mr. Ajoy Sinha Roy and Mr. Neil Butler.

Bolivian Music Festa in Chiba Prefecture

Upon invitation of the Embassy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, attended the event “Latin Music Festa in Tako 2024-ESPECIAL BOLIVIA”, jointly organized by the Embassy of Bolivia and the Municipal Government of Tako City in Chiba Prefecture.

The event took place at the Cultural Hall of Tako City and became part of the celebration of the 110 years of diplomatic relations between Bolivia and Japan. The event attracted a large audience of Tako City residents, who enjoyed live Bolivian Andean music and colorful dance performances featuring characteristic costumes of the Bolivian carnival.

In addition to the residents of Tako, the event was attended by authorities from Chiba Prefecture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and members of the Latin American diplomatic corps.

Ms. Natalia Salazar, Charge d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Bolivia, expressed her gratitude to local authorities for supporting the organization of this event, which significantly contributed to the dissemination of Bolivian culture in Japan and the showcasing of Tako City’s tourist attractions.

Similarly, Dr. Diaz expressed his gratitude to Ms. Salazar for the kind invitation to the event and reiterated JAPOLAC’s commitment to promoting Bolivian cultural awareness in Japan.