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 to Japan and Honorary Member of the Association held a video conference with Mr. Keisuke Nakamura, Representative for Asia of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Asia Office, to explain the objectives and activities of the Association.

Dr. Diaz expressed the interest of JAPOLAC to explore ways to cooperate with IDB in the promotion of business between small and medium size companies from Japan and Latin America and the Caribbean, and for that purpose, explained that JAPOLAC will soon be launching the Business Network Platform (BNP) to connect companies at both end of the Pacific.

Mr. Nakamura welcomed the establishment of the Association and expressed his best wishes for the successful development of JAPOLAC. He also recommended JAPOLAC to exchange opinions with the business platform of IDB to intensify the expansion of business between Japanese and LAC companies.

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 to Japan and Honorary Member of the Association, and Mr. Hirokazu Yamaguchi, Member of the Board, held a meeting with representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to explain the objectives and activities of the Association.

JICA was represented by Dr. Nobuko Kayashima, Senior Vicepresident, Mr. Satoshi Yoshida, Director General of Latin America and the Caribbean Department, Mr. Kota Sakauchi, Director of Central America and the Caribbean Division, y Sulimara Takahashi, Deputy Director of Central America and the Caribbean Division.

Dr. Diaz expressed his thankfulness to Dr. Kayashima for granting some time despite her busy schedule and mentioned the possibility to cooperate with JICA to advance projects in the area of public transportation and waste management in the LAC region, based on the expertise and technology of Japan to improve the quality of life of people and protect the environment.

Dr. Kayashima welcomed the establishment of the Association and expressed her best wishes for the successful development of JAPOLAC. She also conveyed the interest of JICA to cooperate with JAPOLAC in the future.

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 to Japan and Honorary Member of the Association, and Mr. Hirokazu Yamaguchi, Member of the Board, held a meeting with top members of Komei Party of the government coalition to explain the objectives and activities of the Association.

Komei Party was represented by Mr. Natsuo Yamaguchi, Member of the House of Councilors of the Japanese parliament and President of Komei Party and Mr. Taniai Masaaki, Member of House of Councilors of the Japanese parliament, and Chairperson of the International Affairs Committee of the party.

Mr. Yamaguchi welcome the establishment of the Association and expressed his best wishes for the successful development of JAPOLAC.

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 to Japan and Honorary Member of the Association, Mr. Hirokazu Yamaguchi, Member of the Board, and Mr. Ricardo Gonzalez, also Member of the Board held a virtual meeting with Mr. Katsuhiko Murayama, Director General for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI) to explain the objectives and activities of the Association.

Dr. Diaz informed Director General Murayama that JAPOLAC will focus on business facilitation for small and medium size companies of Japan and Latin America and the Caribbean and reiterated the interest of the Association to cooperate with METI to further promote trade between Japan and the countries of LAC.

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 to Japan and Honorary Member of the Association, as well as Mr. Hirokazu Yamaguchi, Member of the Board, held a virtual meeting with representatives of Hokkaido University to explain the objectives and activities of the Association.

Hokkaido University was represented by Mr. So Kawanobe, Deputy Director of the Institute of International Cooperation of Hokkaido University, Mr. Hiroaki Motomura, Director of International Affairs, Mr. Seigo Abe, Chief of International Cooperation Division and Mr. Ruben Rodriguez, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Law of Hokkaido University.

During the meeting, representatives of both organizations exchange views on the academic exchange programs to further promote international education between Hokkaido University and universities of the region of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

Dr. Diaz expressed his gratitude to Deputy Director Mr. Kawanobe for the meeting and reiterated the interest of JAPOLAC to cooperate with Hokkaido University to strengthen academic ties between Japan and the region of LAC.