On January 19 – 20, OISCA President, Dr. Yoshiko Nakano, OISCA Vice President, Ms. Etsuko Nakano, Mr. Tadashi Watanabe, Mr. Fumio Kitsuki and Miss Angela Marie Tayco attended the first Development Cooperation Forum hosted by The Republic of the Union of Myanmar in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar in more than 50 years.
The forum was attended by several international governments, including representatives from Japan, China and United States, UN agencies and international development entities. During the forum, many presentations and discussions led to the unanimous support for the Nay Pyi Taw Accord for Effective Development Cooperation, which promotes for a transparent and clean government with a people-centered development focus.
President Nakano presented her statement on day two of the forum and was delivered in English by Miss Tayco. The statement emphasized that although humanity is in need for technological, scientific and economic development, we must not lose focus on the reason why we push for development in the first place, and that reason is life. There is a crisis of life and Mother Earth is eagerly expecting humanity to create this new civilization with life at the center. This was an appropriate message for the forum as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar is developing into a democratic nation.
During the 10-day-stay, President Nakano and the delegates also had meetings with Sakura Kankou, Yangon Media, Eleven Media Group, the Voice, University of Lacquerware, ANA, JICA, Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Agricultural and Irrigation and the Embassy of Japan in Myanmar.
On January 22, President Nakano and the delegates visited the DOA/OISC Agro-Forestry Training Center. Mr. Keisuke Fujii, Director of the Training Center, described the successful projects, future plans in the 7.5 ha center, and enjoyed a meal in the OISCA Furusato Restaurant located in town’s main street. President Nakano and the delegates completed their trip to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar with a tour of the ancient city of Bagan.