Assistant to the Administrator (AtA) of USAID’s Bureau for Coverage, Planning, and Studying Michele Sumilas traveled to Tokyo and Seoul from September 12 to fifteen, 2022. She attended a collection of occasions and conferences highlighting USAID’s sturdy partnership with each international locations and our work to advance world growth priorities whereas tackling at this time’s hardest challenges collectively.
In Japan, AtA Sumilas met with Mr. Kazuya Endo, the brand new Director Common for Worldwide Cooperation on the Ministry of International Affairs (MOFA); Mr. Hironori Shibata, Japan Worldwide Cooperation Company (JICA) Senior Vice President; Mr. Akio Takahara, JICA Ogata Analysis Institute Government Director; and representatives from the Japan NGO Heart for Worldwide Cooperation (JANIC), Medecins du Monde Japon, and different companions. Conversations explored alternatives for collaboration on essential matters starting from support effectiveness, donor cooperation, and mitigating world growth losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. USAID and the Authorities of Japan additionally mentioned the shared precedence of accelerating regionally led growth and Japan’s upcoming G7 management.
Within the Republic of Korea, AtA Sumilas met with Mr. Received Do-yeon, Director Common of the Growth Cooperation Bureau within the Ministry of International Affairs (MOFA). Sumilas signed a brand new three-year growth cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) and took part in a bilateral growth coverage dialogue. Collectively, USAID and MOFA solidified their world growth partnership to deal with the world’s most difficult issues – together with combating local weather change within the Pacific Islands, enhancing cybersecurity throughout Southeast Asia, and strengthening well being programs in Africa. The MOU builds upon six prior years of worldwide growth cooperation to foster prosperity, safety, and freedom. The Republic of Korea is an particularly sturdy accomplice as a result of it leverages its insights as a former support recipient and its present world standing as a number one democracy and prime tn economic system. AtA Sumilas additionally participated in a roundtable dialogue on localization with representatives from the Korea Worldwide Cooperation Company (KOICA) and performed negotiations with Okay-Water on new bilateral cooperation efforts to enhance water useful resource administration within the Mekong area.
The Republic of Korea and Japan are staunch allies with the USA and companions in addressing world points. Our cooperation enhances peace, prosperity, and safety, particularly within the Indo-Pacific area. All of those efforts deepen {our relationships} and advance world objectives.
