Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, participated in the Cuba Business and Investment Seminar, organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO-ITPO), the Embassy of Cuba in Japan, and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (MINCEX) of Cuba.

The seminar was held at the United Nations University headquarters in Tokyo and was attended by representatives of Japanese companies, academics, journalists, and members of other institutions.

The event began with welcoming remarks from Ms. Fumio Adachi, Head of the UNIDO-ITPO office in Tokyo, and the Ambassador of Cuba in Japan, H.E. Gisela García.

The main presentation was delivered by Ms. Lizbet Díaz, Director of Foreign Capital Business at MINCEX, who provided a detailed explanation of foreign investment projects in prioritized sectors of the country, as well as Cuba’s export product offerings. Ms. Díaz participated as a guest of the UNIDO-ITPO Delegate Program, aimed at promoting business and technology transfer for developing countries.

The seminar also featured interventions from Mr. Toyonari Yamagishi, Executive Director of the Japan-Cuba Economic Conference, and Mr. Shintaro Akiyama, Director of the Central America and Caribbean Division of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, and his wife, attended a farewell dinner hosted by Dr. Akitoshi Sato, Director of Minami Aoyama Implant Clinic, in honor of the Ambassador of Paraguay to Japan, H.E. Raul Florentin, and his wife.

During his term, Ambassador Florentin and his wife carried out an outstanding work in promoting various aspects of Paraguayan culture in Japan.

Dr. Diaz took the opportunity to convey his gratitude to Ambassador Florentin for his support of the Japan Association for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC), since its establishment in 2020.

Dr. Diaz also expressed his best wishes for their continued success in their next new assignment in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, along with his wife, attended the National Day Reception of Azerbaijan. During the event, Dr. Diaz extended his congratulations to H.E. Gursel Ismailzada, Ambassador of Azerbaijan, and wished for the continued prosperity of the Azerbaijani people. Additionally, Dr. Diaz exchanged greetings with Mr. Natsuo Yamaguchi, President of the Komeito Party, and other distinguished guests.

During his visit to Panama in May this year, Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, held a meeting with Dr. Oris Calvo, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Panama University, and her team to discuss the possibility of academic collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine at Chiba University.

Dr. Calvo expressed keen interest in establishing academic cooperation with Chiba University in various medical fields. In this regard, Dr. Diaz agreed to facilitate the introduction to relevant contacts at the Faculty of Medicine at Chiba University to initiate discussions on potential areas of collaboration between both medical schools.

One of the primary objectives of JAPOLAC is to promote academic collaboration between Japanese universities and those in Latin America and the Caribbean. Through initiatives like this, JAPOLAC plays an important role in advancing academic cooperation, fostering exchanges of knowledge, and facilitating research partnerships that benefit both regions.

On April 4th, the University of Santiago, Chile, carried out the closing ceremony for its first short online program, delivered to students of Chiba University, Japan, and supported by the Japan Association for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (JAPOLAC).

During the ceremony, Dr. Ritter Diaz, Representative Director of JAPOLAC, offered congratulations to the students and faculty of both institutions for the successful culmination of the program. He commended Japanese students for their dedication to learning about Chile, including its key industrial sectors such as mining, winemaking, salmon farming, and forestry. Dr. Diaz underscored the significance of this educational initiative in promoting cross-cultural understanding and appreciation, as well as fostering meaningful interactions between Japanese and Chilean students.

Moreover, Dr. Diaz highlighted the integration of digital tools and processes into education, emphasizing its cost-effectiveness and its positive impact to expand international academic collaboration. He mentioned that this short online program will pave the way for deeper academic cooperation between Chiba University and the University of Santiago.

These short online programs are carefully coordinated by JAPOLAC to provide practical knowledge to Japanese students, encouraging them to pursue further educational opportunities in Latin American and Caribbean countries. They also offer a valuable opportunity for students to engage in international communication in English language. Ultimately, these programs serve as a good example of international academic collaboration, enriching the educational experiences of students.

The closing ceremony counted on the presence of His Excellency Ricardo Rojas, Ambassador of Chile to Japan, Dr. Hiroaki Ozawa, Vice-President for Education and International Affairs at Chiba University, and Dr. Cesar Ross, Director of the Asian Study Nucleus (ASN) and Senior Researcher at the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Santiago, Chile.