President Luis Abinader led the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the arrival of the first group of Japanese immigrants to the Dominican Republic, where Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez highlighted the contributions of this population in the national development of agriculture, fishing, transportation, agricultural production (especially in rice, fruits and vegetables) and in the creation of independent companies.
The event was part of the official visit of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Takashi Uto, who explained that more than 800 Japanese descendants currently reside in the Dominican Republic, serving as a bridge to strengthen the 87 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
On behalf of this community of immigrants, the presidents of the National Association of Japanese and the Japanese-Dominican Fraternity, Turo Takegama and Takashi Nishio, respectively, thanked the Dominican Government for the realization of this event.
Also present at the activity held at the National Palace were the Vice President of the Republic, Raquel Peña; the Minister of the Presidency, Lisandro Macarrulla; and the Administrative Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza.
Earlier, Chancellor Alvarez and Minister Uto signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs an Exchange of Diplomatic Notes between the two governments which will facilitate the Dominican Ministry of Finance to access a reimbursable cooperation of 200 million dollars through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The agreement reached by Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez, using diplomatic channels to manage economic and technical contributions, will allow the Dominican Government to address the effects of the coronavirus pandemic through the Program to Strengthen Public Policy and Fiscal Management to Address the Health and Economic Crisis Caused by COVID-19.
“We would like to thank the reiterated effort of the Government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency in cooperating with the Dominican Republic, especially during the global health situation in which we are involved,” Alvarez highlighted during the exchange of Diplomatic Notes.
The Foreign Minister assured that the Dominican Republic will make efficient and responsible use of the reimbursable cooperation granted by JICA and will continue to follow up on existing initiatives with Japan.
Also present at this activity on behalf of the Dominican Government were the Ministers of Finance and Economy Planning and Development, José-Jochi-Vicente and Miguel Ceara Hatton, respectively; the Dominican Ambassador to Japan, Robert Takata; deputy ministers and directors of the institutions involved.
On behalf of the Government of Japan, the ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Hiroyuki Makiuchi; the deputy director general of the Office of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Shuichi Akamatsu; among other Japanese officials.
