April 27, 2012
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Ambassador Takahashi Designated as the Permanent Representative of Japan to SAARC
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The Embassy of Japan in Nepal takes this opportunity to announce that H.E. Mr. Kunio Takahashi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Nepal, has been designated as the Permanent Representative to SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) by the Government of Japan. A copy of the Letter of Credence to this effect was submitted to H.E. Mr. Ahmed Saleem, SAARC Secretary General, on April 27th 2012.
Japan has been engaged in building friendly relationships with SAARC through various mechanisms including the SAARC-Japan Special Fund (SJSF), which was established in September, 1993. To date Japan has extended the total sum of 4.73 million U.S. dollars to SJSF, which is being utilized to promote regional cooperation, in particular, in the field of energy, disaster management, environment and gender. In addition, student and youth exchange programs were also undertaken under SJSF, through which 721 students and youth from the SAARC Member States were invited to Japan between 2007 and 2011.
In 2012, in commemoration of the Great East Japan Earthquake that hit north-eastern Japan on March 11th 2011, the Government of Japan has decided to launch the “KIZUNA�@�iBond of Friendship�j Project” aiming at fostering friendship between future generations of the Member States and Japan, with the program featuring voluntary work, joining hands with Japanese students, in the disaster-hit areas. A total of 440 students from SAARC countries will be invited to Japan under this KIZUNA Project this year.
The appointment of Ambassador Takahashi as the Permanent Representative to SAARC is a clear expression of Japan's firm commitment to further strengthen the friendly and cordial relationship that exists between SAARC and Japan. Japan sincerely wishes to continue working closely with the SAARC Secretariat as well as Member States to achieve this end.
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