Mi hapi tumas fo mitim yu. We want to continue to be a good partner in the future!
My name is Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki, and starting in May 2025, I will serve as the Resident Representative(R/R) of the JICA Solomon Islands Office. Previously, I held the same role in the JICA Jamaica and JICA Maldives Offices, and before that I served as Director General of JICA Okinawa. During these periods, I have experienced the development challenges faced by island nations and learned that meaningful progress can be achieved when island nations collaborate and share their human resources, technology, and knowledge. A compelling example is the adoption of environmentally friendly, small-scale incinerator technology developed in Okinawa, which has been utilized successfully in the Maldives to address waste management challenges.
Diplomatic relation between Japan and the Solomon Islands was established in 1978, which is the year the country gained independence, and that was also when JICA began its cooperation . The Solomon Islands, like many other island nations, faces common development challenges, but it also has its own unique issues shaped by its own history and context. I feel that it is essential to fully understand the historical background of the Solomon Islands people, such as tribal conflicts and disputes over land and resources. Fortunately, JICA has a strong foundation to build on. There are not only about 450 former JICA volunteers (JOCV) and about 1,300 returned trainees (Solomons who are knowledgeable and pro-Japan), but also a network of human resources formed through past cooperation (individuals who are familiar with the local context and language: repeat Solomons visitors such as JOCV, etc.). At a broader, strategic level, there is the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), a regional organization responsible for formulating regional policies and promoting cooperation across Oceania, and the policies and guidelines put forward at the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM), a summit-level forum for discussing various issues facing Pacific island nations, which I believe will serve as the foundation for JICA's future cooperation in the region.
In 2025, 80 years after the end of World War II, we remember and honor the lives lost during the fierce battle between the Japanese and Allied forces on Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands. This historical connection makes Japan’s continued support for the country especially meaningful. As one of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) and a low income country, the Solomon islands faces many development challenges but also many opportunities. The country is receiving growing international attention both because of its vulnerability to natural disasters caused by climate change and the fact that it has become a focal point of geopolitical interest, with growing engagement from China and the Western countries (e.g. Australia, the United States, etc.). In this complex landscape, Japan has established a relationship with the Solomon Islands based on equality and mutual respect. I am committed to continuing this partnership through sincere and people centered exchanges, an approach that reflects the spirit and values of the Japanese people. Together with our office staff, I will do my best to ensure that Japan remains a good and reliable partner for the Solomon Islands in the future.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to each and every person who has read this, and would be very happy if you could join us in building a peaceful and stable Solomon Islands.
May 2025
Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki(Mr.)
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