JICA has announced four participants from Tonga to take part in the 1st Batch for the Pacific Leader’s Educational Assistance for Development of State (Pacific-LEADS Programme).
Radio Tonga reports this is part of Japan’s commitment from the 7th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 7) in May 2015.
During an official function for welcoming the Pacific LEADS Participants, Ambassador Yukio Numata briefly emphasized that the significant outcome of this educational program will benefit both countries as well as promoting closer friendship between people of Tonga and the people of Japan.
The main objective of this initiative is to foster young leaders who are expected to play vital roles towards the resolution of development challenges in Pacific Islands Countries, not only that but their proposed research topics are anticipated to contribute to solve the development agendas of Pacific Island Countries such as Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change, the Environment, Sustainable Development, Oceans, Maritime issues, and Fisheries, Trade, Investment, Tourism and the Economic Policy.
Pacific LEADS will accept 100 participants from 14 Pacific Countries which is divided into 3 batches (2016, 2017, and 2018) for duration of 30 months.
The four students are expected to depart Tonga for Japan on Monday for their first Joint Programme arranged by JICA Headquarter at Okinawa Islands, before they are dispatched to each respective university to commence their study programmes.
The Tongan successful participants include Charles Kato of the Livestock Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forestry & Fisheries, Nikolasi Fonua of the Strategic Development Division, Tonga Power Limited, Melesungu Pule of the Product & Destination Division, Ministry of Tourism and Simata Palu also of the Tourism Ministry’s Policy Development Division.