JICA Alumni from ASEAN countries convene to forge stronger partnership towards regional development

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) welcomed the official delegates of the ASEAN-Japan Friendship Association for the 21^st Century (AJAFA-21) together with the JICA Alumni Association of the Philippines, Inc. (JAAP), local executives of the Province of Pampanga, and government dignitaries for the 28^th Regional Leaders Forum (RLF) of AJAFA-21.

AJAFA-21, established in 1988, is an organization comprised of JICA Alumni Associations of the ASEAN Region¹ and Japan. They have been working to foster friendship and partnership in the ASEAN through conduct of knowledge-sharing activities that promote mutual understanding and regional development. This is testament that the principle of former Japan Prime Minister NAKASONE Yasuhiro remains resilient with the alumni as they continue to be in contribution to the peace, development, and stable relations in the ASEAN region and Japan.

The RLF, one of AJAFA-21’s annual major activities, is hosted in rotation by member countries and held at different places. The knowledge exchange activities aim to showcase development experiences, the history, and diversity of each country. This year, it was attended by about 140 delegates in Pampanga province, the Philippines, from November 28 to November 30 with the theme “JICA Scholars as Instruments of Connectivity and Resilience”.

The delegates visited significant sites that offered insights into the province’s past events of natural disasters and war, the area’s recovery and transition to a prosperous economic zone, and the province’s ancestral roots and tradition as well. The forum not only broadened their knowledge, but also induced knowledge sharing, strengthened their ties with fellow alumni from various generations and genders, and rekindled their experience as former JICA trainees and scholars.

JICA Chief Representative SAKAMOTO Takema emphasized in his speech to AJAFA-21, “JICA alumni associations play an absolutely significant role as you embody Japan’s dedication to fostering people-to-people exchanges, and to maximizing the impact by all ex-participants towards your countries’ development and prosperity. Your work ensures that the knowledge gained and networks built through JICA programs remain vibrant and impactful, advancing collaboration across the ASEAN.” Also, consistent with the theme, training and scholarship programs remain to be among the longest types of cooperation offered by JICA to partner countries to empower future leaders as they move toward a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive quality growth for all.

“As Japanese ODA becomes bigger and bigger in Southeast Asia, so does the number of JICA scholars, beneficiaries, and trainees. That’s why your organizations have become very important,” added former President of the Philippines and the incumbent 2nd District Representative of Pampanga Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She likewise encouraged AJAFA-21, as a people’s organization, to renew their commitment as agents of positive change, champions of connectivity, and ivory resilience.