As the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Japan continue to solidify relations particularly during the CARICOM-Japan Friendship Year 2024, Deputy Secretary-General, Dr Armstrong Alexis received a visit from Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, His Excellency Yasushi Hosaka, at the CARICOM Secretariat on 30 May 2024.
During the exchange, the two sides discussed the follow-up to the Secretary General’s visit to Japan earlier in the year for the launch of Japan-CARICOM Friendship Year 2024.
The CARICOM-Japan cooperation on the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Haiti; an upcoming CARICOM-Japan senior officials meeting in Guyana in July; and a Ministerial meeting in Japan in December, all of which are being planned as part of the CARICOM-Japan Friendship Year 2024, also formed part of the discussion.
Following the formal discussions, the delegation participated in a tour of the Secretariat where they viewed the Japan-funded Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation Plant and Battery Storage, and the Building Energy Management System which facilitates renewable energy power generation at the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters, making the building a show piece for the application of renewable energy technology. The delegation also viewed the Retrospective Display which was created for the 50th anniversary celebrations.
The CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General was accompanied by Assistant Secretary-General, Directorate of Foreign and Community Relations, Ms. Elizabeth Solomon; Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Integration, Innovation and Development, Mr. Joseph Cox and other officials.
The Vice-Minister was accompanied by the Plenipotentiary Representative of Japan to CARICOM, His Excellency Yutaka Matsubara; the Director within Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean Division, Latin American and the Caribbean Bureau, Mr. Sato Shinichi, and other representatives of the Government of Japan.
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Photo: From left to right: Plenipotentiary Representative of Japan to CARICOM, His Excellency Yutaka Matsubara; Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, His Excellency Yasushi Hosaka; CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General, Dr. Armstrong Alexis; and Assistant Secretary-General for Foreign and Community Relations, Ms Elizabeth Solomon following a courtesy call to the Deputy Secretary-General on Thursday 30 May 2024.
