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Japan backs program for Pacific isles
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Posted on Jan 29 2001
HONOLULU (PIDP/CPIS) — The government of Japan will present the East-West Center with a contribution of $357,000 next week, continuing support of the Center’s Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP).
Since 1978, Japan has provided $3.9 million to the Center, primarily to assist PIDP in meeting the research and training needs of the peoples of the Pacific islands region.
Minoru Shibuya, consul general of Japan in Hawai’i, will officially present the contribution at an evening reception January 31 sponsored by the Bank of Hawaii to honor presidents, prime ministers, governors and other participants in the sixth Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders’ summit. The presentation will be made at the Ala Moana Hotel, Honolulu.
“The Government of Japan has always supported the East-West Center and the PIDP activities for their worthwhile causes,” Consul General Shibuya said.
“This contribution expresses the strong commitment of the Japanese Government to the sustainable development of the countries and the improvement of the people’s well-being in the Pacific region.”
More than 6,300 Japanese scholars, research specialists, graduate students, and professionals in government, business, journalism and the arts have participated in East-West Center cooperative programs of research, study, training and dialogue since the EWC was established in 1960.
No other Asian country has been as deeply involved in such a broad range of EWC activities, noted Charles E. Morrison, who expressed appreciation on behalf of the Center for Japan’s continuing support.
PIDP, in addition to its research, training and education activities, serves as the secretariat for the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders, a heads of government organization for Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.
The meeting of regional leaders, January 30-31, will consider the topic, “In an Era of Globalization: How Do We Care For and Share with Others?”
