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.

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 of Directors of the Association held a meeting with Mr. Kiyoshi Ejima, State Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Economy, and Industry of Japan to explain the objectives and activities of the Association.

The State Minister welcomed the establishment of the Association and expressed his good wishes and support for the activities of JAPOLAC. State Minister Ejima pointed out that the Association offers an excellent platform to further strengthen and expand ties between Japan and LAC countries.