2007 IDB Scholarship Graduates Award Trip

From October 3^rd to 5^th, the IDB Office in Asia conducted an award trip program for the 2007 IDB scholarship graduates. The trip provides a valuable opportunity for the participants to become familiar with Japanese culture, society and business practices. This year, 9 students from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Mexico, Peru, Suriname participated in the program. Two of them are currently studying at Japanese Universities.

This year's program began with a courtesy visit with Mr. Tatsuo Yamazaki, Deputy Director-General of Japan's Ministry of Finance (MOF), which provides the funding for the scholarship program. During the visit, MOF Officials introduced the relationship between Japan and Latin America, and encouraged the students to effectively contribute to the social and economic development of their countries. After students received two lectures regarding Japan and the IDB from Mr. Borga, Deputy Representative of the Office and Mr. Shinde, former staff, they attended a roundtable, which drew over 40 participants. Mr. Kazutoshi Koshikawa, Deputy Vice Minister opened the roundtable and was followed by presentation by students. They could exchange their ideas and information at the reception with participants from the government, universities and private sector. The program also featured visits to Yokohama National University and Mitsubishi Corporation, and at the Corporation, Mr. Akihisa Masui, Manager, Mr. Takaki Furuya, Ms. Kana Hasegawa, Manger at Corporate Strategy & Research Department, and Mr. Niro Tanaka, Manager of America, Europe & the Middle East Office introduced about an unique Japanese business style called "Sogo Shosha" (all-round trading company), history of Mitsubishi Corporation, its relationship with Latin America, and the Mitsubishi's business model. The visit helped students to deepen understanding of the IDB, Japanese society and its culture.

IDB Scholarship recipients visit to MOF

Workshop on the Legal Framework for Foreign Investment in Colombia

The IDB Office in Asia sponsored a workshop on The Legal Framework for Foreign Investment in Colombia. The event was organized by the Embassy of Colombia with support from JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization).

Mr. Juan Manuel Idrovo, President of the Colombian Chapter of the International Fiscal Association led the discussion and explained the recent developments in Colombian tax law and its impact on foreign companies. The Colombian Ambassador to Japan, Ms. Patricia Cardenas opened the floor by highlighting the growing FDI to the country and the more than 700 international companies already established in Colombia.

Mr. Juan Borga from the IDB Office in Asia joined the Ambassador in welcoming the participants and indicating that the Bank has traditionally supported Colombia and that it is receptive to private sector initiatives. The participants, representing more that forty major Japanese corporations, actively participated of the discussions showing the interest the country generates among Japanese companies.

Colombia Seminar on Legal Framework for Foreign Investment

The 11^th KOREA-LAC Business Forum

The Office in Asia held the 11^th Korea-Latin America Business Forum on October 8^th and 9^th at COEX Conference Center in Soul. The seminar was organized by Korea-LAC, Korea International Trade Association (KITA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Korea (MOFAT), Ministry Of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) in Korea, Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).

At the forum, business environments in LAC countries, which recently became one of the most principal partners in Korea were introduced, and researchers explained the present situation of FTA in LAC.

Korean investments are growing in Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, and specialists from those countries explained major systems and regulations on FTA.

Mr. Shikado, Representative of the Office in Asia joined the forum on behalf of the IDB, and Mr. Hernan Gutierrez, Minister Counselor and Head of the Economic Department of the Embassy of the Republic of Chile in Korea, and Mr. Raul Urteaga, Minister of the Mexico-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement of the Embassy of Mexico in Japan, explained the current situation of FTA.

At the presentation on major 5 countries including Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Panama and Ecuador, the investment environment and different feasible projects were introduced.

It was a good opportunity for Korean companies to have informed the investment environment in LAC, and the forum received great reviews, contributing to a prosperous future in the region.

The 11th KOREA-LAC Business Forum

The 44^th Annual meeting of the Japan Society of Social Science on Latin America

The 44^th annual meeting of the Japan Society of Social Science on Latin America was held on October 27^th and 28^th at Nanzan University in Nagoya, and the Office participated in the meeting as a discussant in the session on "Comparison and the prosperous of Social Development Policies" in Latin American Countries. The Office's Representative Mr. Shikado provided relevant information on the Bank's activities related to Social Development in the area.

Experts of Latin American studies participated in the meeting, and gave presentations on social developments, social structures, industrial policies, alternative economic models, and international relations.

Based on the reports of the IDB and ECLAC, Mr. Shikado explained about the current situations of Micro-economic trend, poverty, labor markets, and income gaps and education levels in Latin American countries. He referred to activities and structures of the IDB and MIF, and explained a strategy on "Building Opportunity for the Majority".

Mr. Shikado also introduced the IDB Summer Internship Program at Headquarters for graduate students, expecting their enthusiastic applications.

The 44th Annual meeting of the Japan Society of Social Science on Latin America

Argentina Trade Mission

A trade mission from Argentina visited Japan (November 5-7, 2007) to showcase Argentinean products among Japanese companies and promote new investments to the country.

The delegation was integrated by 31 people and included the representatives of 24 private companies and officers from the Argentinean public sector. Ambassador Alfredo Chiaradia, Secretary of International Economic Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was the head of the delegation. During the first half day of the mission, a general session on the current situation of Argentina was organized. The Argentinean Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Daniel Polski and Mr. Chiaradia explained the current economic situation in Argentina and future perspectives in terms of trade and investment. From the Japanese side, Mr. Akira Miwa, Director General of the Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) expressed his satisfaction with the growing economic relation between both countries. The session was closed by a panel discussion among representatives of Japanese companies currently doing business in Argentina. The key underlying message of their enthusiastic presentations was that the current economic growth in Argentina has created a wealth of business opportunities.

Approximately 150 Japanese businessmen participated of the discussions.

The representatives from the visiting companies (that belong to the small and medium size range, and offered a wide range of products including agro-industrial foodstuff, textiles, architecture education and sports related products among others) had more than 200 business meetings with Japanese companies.

The organizers of the mission were the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Japan, the Asian Office of the Inter-American Development Bank and the Okita foundation. Various Japanese organizations such as JBIC and JETRO supported the mission.

Consulted after the visit, Argentinean business people showed their satisfaction with the results and some indicated that had received trial orders from their Japanese counterparts.

Seminar by Argentina Trade Mission	Lecturers

The 12^th Breakfast Meeting

The Office in Asia held the 12^th Breakfast Meeting on November 13^th, inviting ambassadors and Charge D' Affaires of the Latin America and Caribbean Countries in Japan. Mr. Naoyuki Shinohara, Vice-Minister of Finance for International Affairs of Japan's Ministry of Finance, was invited as a guest speaker, and gave a speech on Global Financial Market Issues including Sovereign Wealth Fund. LAC representatives welcomed the opportunity to exchange views on the Japanese economy with Mr. Shinohara.

The 12th Breakfast Meeting

IADB-ADBI LAEBA Seminar
MIF Seminar by Mrs. Susana Garcia-Robles

The Office in Asia held a roundtable with Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) on November 16^th, by Mrs. Susana Garcia-Robles, Senior Investment Officer at MIF of the IDB.

Mr. Shikado, Representative of the Office in Asia, opened the seminar, and Dr. Mario B. Lamberte, Research Director of ADBI, Mr. Nobuhiko Hibara, Professor of Ritsumeikan University, and Mr. Osamu Hosokubo, Executive Director of Japan Asia Investment Co., Ltd., explained about the growing venture capital and its business.

Mrs. Garcia-Robles explained how the IDB supports Venture Business in Latin America, explaining the importance, characteristics, activities and the current situation of MIF in the area. Participants from International Monetary Fund (IMF), ADB, public research centers, and financial organizations expressed their interests in the venture industry in Asia and LAC.

Mrs. Garcia-Robles also attended the APO Venture Forum on November 13^th, and Venture Expo 2007 on 15^th, both held in Osaka. Participants from Asian countries were interested in Venture Business and experiences in LAC.

Venture Capital Seminar by ADBI	APO Venture Forum in Osaka

Modernization of Panama Merchant Marine

The IDB office in Asia co-organized with the Embassy of Panama in Japan a working session on the Modernization of Panama Merchant Marine (Nov 15, 2007). The objective was to explain to Japanese customers the current modernization process of Panama Merchant Marine and exchange ideas and views. As the oldest and largest open registry in the world the event drew significant interest not only in Japan but also from other Asian countries: More than 170 representatives of the industry including logistic companies, operators, builders, insurers and representatives of the workers among others participated of the event.

"Panama has proved to be a dependable partner and wises to continue providing high quality services at reasonable prices." Indicated Mr. Fernando Solorzano, Director General of Panama Merchant Marine Authority and leader of the important delegation from Panama. "In this sense getting closer to customers and receiving their feedback is of paramount importance to the Authority." Added Mr. Solorzano who personally greeted each of the participants.

The backbone of the workshop was a highly technical presentation by Mr. Alfonso Castillero, Director General of Merchant Marine, who explained different improvements the Authority is implementing and future plan. His explanation on a proposed new merchant marine law, elicited special attention from the participants and generated lively exchanges.

The workshop was certainly a success and no few representatives of the industry commended the Authority for its desire to better understand customer's needs, and suggested the importance of holding periodic meetings.

Panama Seminar by the Panama Merchant Marine

LAC Ambassador in Japan

H. E. Mr. Miguel Ruiz-Cabañas Izquierdo

Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Staff at Inter-American Development Bank

Tetsuro Narita

George Orwell, 1984.