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Attending Event Marking 70th Anniversary of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA)

By May 15, 2024June 22nd, 2024No Comments

On May 15, Ambassador Lina Annab and team members from the Embassy participated in the event marking the 70th anniversary of Official Development Assistance (ODA), organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Tokyo.

The event aimed to commemorate the work of ODA, discuss its current status, and explore the future role of development cooperation. Attendees included Members of the Diet, development cooperation practitioners, academics, private sector representatives, fromer Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV), NGOs, and media, totaling around 100 participants.

The event, themed “70th Anniversary of ODA and the Role of Future Development Cooperation,” served as a platform to reflect on ODA’s history and share insights on future development cooperation challenges and opportunities.

Dr. TANAKA Akihiko, President of JICA., delivered the opening speech.

During the event, Ambassador Annab joined a panel discussion titled “The Future of Development Cooperation through Co-Creation.”

In her remarks, she congratulated JICA on marking its ODA 70th anniversary.

She opened her talk by congratulating JICA on marking this important milestone.  She went on to highlight the important role of ODA in delivering the indispensable assistance necessary  to achieve peace and security in all forms—human, economic, and environmental.

“JICA’s role in Jordan reflects the longstanding and friendly relations between our two countries,” Annab said.  “In 2024, we mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Jordan and Japan. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of cooperation with JICA, with the first Japan ODA loan to Jordan signed in 1974.”

Ambassador Annab highlighted the significant impact of JICA’s contributions to Jordan.  She acknowledged the critical role of JICA experts and volunteers in nurturing people-to-people relations, with almost 1,000 JICA volunteers having served in Jordan to date.

Key sectors of JICA’s involvement in Jordan include energy, water, support for refugees and host communities, education, health, regional cooperation, and tourism. Ambassador Annab elaborated on JICA’s contributions to the tourism sector, such as the construction of infrastructure and technical cooperation to develop a sustainable and resilient tourism industry. She mentioned the introduction of the “Eco Museum” concept in As-Salt City, which contributed to its UNESCO World Heritage Site designation in 2019.

Ambassador Annab also discussed expectations for Japan’s future development cooperation, emphasizing the importance of resilience and sustainability in projects. She underscored the significance of human security as a guiding principle in international development efforts, reflecting the interconnectedness of global challenges and the need for collective action.

On the role of the private sector in development projects, Ambassador Annab stated, “The participation of the private sector is mutually beneficial for both developing countries and private enterprises. Effective collaboration can lead to holistic and sustainable development, driving progress and prosperity.”

Ambassador Annab concluded her remarks by stressing the importance of co-creation in development projects.  She also expressed her appreciation for the continued support and friendship between Japan and Jordan.