Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) held, in cooperation with the Japanese Embassy, an introductory seminar for its staff about the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

 

The seminar falls within the framework of ongoing cooperation between the two institutions, and targeted the Fund’s employees in the operations department, and engineers in the training program for newly-graduate Kuwaiti engineers and architects.

The event is part of the agreed-upon preparatory activities between KFAED and JICA to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding for the proposed developmental cooperation between the two bodies, Acting Director-General of Kuwait Fund Mr. Waleed Shamlan Al-Bahar stated. 

Al-Bahar added the seminar is a follow-up to the meeting held last May with His Excellency the Japanese Ambassador Mr. Morino Yasonari, during which a deal was sealed to organize such an introductory symposium about JICA for the Fund's staff to understand the agency and its operating mechanisms, and explore the potential areas of bilateral cooperation that could be achieved and strengthened in the future.

For his part, Mr. Kato Hiroshi, the Vice-President of the International University of Japan and the former Senior Vice-President of JICA, affirmed, in his speech at the event, JICA's commitment to contribute to boosting global development strategies and cooperation with international institutions.

He pointed out that the agency's primary objective is to enhance Japan's position on development issues and international aid, which aligns with Kuwait Fund's strategy.

It should be noted that JICA was established in 1974 as an independent governmental organization, after being formally affiliated with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The agency coordinates the Japanese government's official development assistance, and specializes in supporting economic and social growth in developing nations and promoting international cooperation.

JICA has a network of 97 offices worldwide, with projects in over 150 countries and an annual budget of up to 1 trillion Japanese Yen.