JICA President Tanaka Visited Nepal, Malaysia and Pakistan

From July 26 to August 6, JICA President Tanaka Akihiko visited Nepal, Malaysia, and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. During the visit, he met with key ministers of the three countries, participated in ceremonies and seminars, and visited JICA project sites. Through these activities, he reaffirmed the deep ties between Japan and Asia and witnessed firsthand the impact of JICA’s cooperation initiatives.

[Nepal]
During his visit to Nepal, President Tanaka held high-level meetings with Minister of Finance Waglre, Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Lamsal, and Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shrestha. Marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Nepal, they exchanged views on strengthening bilateral ties and deepening cooperation across a wide range of sectors.

During the visit, President Tanaka attended the inauguration ceremony of the Nagdhunga Tunnel, Nepal’s first mountain road tunnel constructed with Japanese cooperation. Located on a key transport corridor connecting Kathmandu with other parts of the country, the tunnel is expected to reduce chronic traffic congestion and improve logistics efficiency. This project stands as a testament to Japan’s civil engineering expertise and reliability, making a significant contribution to Nepal’s infrastructure development.

President Tanaka also visited the Patan Secondary School in Kathmandu, which was reconstructed with Japanese cooperation following the 2015 Nepal earthquake. At the school, where a JICA Volunteer is working, he observed children learning in a safe and supportive environment, highlighting how Japan’s cooperation is supporting the Nepal’s future generations.

Through this visit, President Tanaka reaffirmed that Japanese cooperation is contributing to the livelihoods of the Nepalese people while further strengthening the relationship of trust between the two countries. He also emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation with Nepal as partners to promote further development.

[Malaysia]
President Tanaka then visited Malaysia and held meetings with Minister of Economy Akmal and Deputy Director-General Zawawi of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). During the meeting with the Minister of Economy, President Tanaka reaffirmed JICA’s commitment to cooperation that would contribute to balanced development toward Malaysia’s transition to a high-income economy, while also strengthening bilateral relations. He also confirmed with MMEA that maritime security cooperation with Malaysia, which borders the strategically important Strait of Malacca, will continue in the future.

In addition, President Tanaka attended the kickoff meeting of a joint research initiative co-hosted by the JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), together with SDSN President Jeffrey Sachs, and delivered a keynote address. In the speech, President Tanaka expressed JICA’s commitment to actively contributing to future discussions on the post-2030 sustainable development agenda.

President Tanaka also visited the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) and attended a signing ceremony for documents related to the implementation of a scholarship program for Palestinian students studying abroad. In his remarks at the ceremony, President Tanaka highlighted the significance of collaboration for Palestine’s reconstruction in partnership with MJIIT, a successful outcome of Japan-Malaysia cooperation, and expressed his expectations for the initiative.

[Pakistan]
Finally, President Tanaka visited Pakistan, where he held meetings with Prime Minister Sharif; Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Iqbal; Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Cheema; and Chief Minister of Punjab Nawaz Sharif. The discussions focused on Pakistan's development challenges, and both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation through a wide range of development cooperation initiatives.

President Tanaka also visited Faisalabad, where he toured water supply facilities being developed and improved with JICA's cooperation. He also visited households benefiting from the project and observed how access to safe water has improved residents' daily lives, as well as efforts to introduce a meter-based water tariff system. JICA is also considering cooperation for the expansion of a new water treatment plant in the city. The achievements of this comprehensive cooperation initiative for the water supply sector are expected to be replicated in other areas as the “Faisalabad Model.”

Furthermore, President Tanaka visited one of Non-Formal Education sites implementing a program that has received JICA’s support for more than 20 years, and a provincial government department supporting survivors of gender-based violence. He also visited the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and the National Emergency Operations Centre, which plays a central role in polio eradication efforts. The visit also included Geoscience Advanced Research Laboratories established through JICA’s cooperation in the 1990s. Through these visits, he reaffirmed that Japan's cooperation in a wide range of sectors, including education, health, and natural resources, continues to strengthen people's livelihoods and social stability while further deepening the strong relationship of trust between Japan and Pakistan.