President's Desk

Mr. Tanaka's message as JICA's new President

People of the world have become more interdependent as globalization continues. As a key member of the international community, Japan has a duty to address global issues, a commitment which will also help bring peace and prosperity to our own country.

Under my predecessor, Mrs. Sadako OGATA, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has grown into an organization which is capable of providing developing countries and areas ‘seamless' assistance in a variety of circumstances. JICA is engaged in every phase of development: assisting in peace building in the wake of conflict, helping to immediately rebuild shattered economies and social structures and then to ensure long-term and sustainable development of nations.

As the country's major development agency, it is important to emphasize that JICA's activities should reflect both the Japanese people's will and opinions.

I am humbled by my new role as the President of JICA, an organization which has assumed the country's responsibility to the world as well as the trust of the people of Japan in providing comprehensive assistance to developing countries and areas across the globe.

We were heartened by the warm messages and support from all over the world in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake last March. Assistance came from people even in developing countries whose own survival was at risk and this reminded us of how expansively and deeply our country is connected with the international community. I do not doubt that many people in Japan who received such support have themselves again felt moved to do something for the international community. I believe that such interconnection between people and the sense of solidarity make the foundation for the development of the international community.

Going forward, JICA is committed to letting the people of Japan know the current situation of developing countries and areas and disseminating its experience-based knowledge to the world more broadly than ever. I promise that, based on our international cooperation expertise and empathy of the people of Japan, we will walk with developing countries and areas as their partner and play the role of strengthening ties between people living there and the people of Japan.

Akihiko TANAKA, President
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)