It is my great pleasure to write the president message for the Milan Magazine 2022 published on the occasion of 49th Annual Function of JAAN.
The main objective of the JAAN is to promote friendship and mutual understanding between Nepal and Japan, to exchange the knowledge and skill acquired in Japan, and to work as the center of experts. The government of Japan through JICA has been supporting in the development endeavors of numerous developing and the least developed countries including all countries in South Asia.
The year 2022 was a remarkable year. It was the 120th anniversary of the first dispatch of eight Nepali students to Japan. JAAN has started to conduct its regular activities smoothly after long Covid – 19 pandemic. JAAN has conducted its periodic executive committee election and JAAN members elected me as the president of JAAN for third term unanimously. Hon. State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. TAKEI Shunsuke and Senior Executive Vice-president from JICA Headquarter, Dr. Junichi YAMADA visited Nepal this year. Despite their short visit and tight schedule of Japanese high-level mission, JAAN had the opportunity to meet them and to exchange about the long and close relationship between the two countries.
I express my sincere gratitude to H. E. Yutaka KIKUTA, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal for his continuous kind support to JAAN, his active participation in JAAN activities and for inviting JAAN team for exchanging opinion with various level Japanese mission. Similarly, I am thankful to Mr. Akimitsu OKUBO, Chief Representative, JICA Nepal, for his and JICA’s kind support in our programs. I would like to thank all the concerned officials of Embassy of Japan, JICA Nepal, government of Nepal and JAAN members for their kind support for conducting JAAN activities, and I am expecting the same kind of cooperation in the days to come.
As the Secretary General of JICA Alumni Association of SAARC Countries (JAAFSC), I am also coordinating JAAFSC activities in the SAARC region and getting kind cooperation from all concerned. I am thankful to JICA Officials and Alumni Members from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka for their cordial support in JAAFSC activities. I would also like to thank JICA Head Office, South Asia Department for their kind support in JAAN and JAAFSC activities. I am thankful to all Executive Committee Members for their sincere efforts for JAAN. I hope JAAN will get continuous support from all the concerned in its activities to further strengthen the good relation between Nepal and Japan in future.
I appreciate the effort of Chief Editor, Editors, Advisory Committees, and all article writers for their contribution in MILAN.
Thank you.
Dr. Ram Chandra Bhusal
President
JICA Alumni Association of Nepal (JAAN)