Colombo, Feb 9: President of the JICA Alumni Association of Nepal (JAAN), Dr Ram Chandra Bhusal, has been elected as the President of the JICA Alumni Associations’ Forum of SAARC Countries (JAAFSC). He was elected unopposed during the election of JICA alumni from SAARC member countries, held following a three-day international seminar in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The seminar, organized on the theme “Japan’s Contribution to the Social and Economic Development of South Asia,” brought together JICA alumni representatives from across the SAARC region to discuss regional cooperation, development priorities, and shared experiences.
Dr. Bhusal, who now assumes leadership of JAAFSC, is currently serving as President of JAAN. Prior to this, he had been working as the Secretary General of JAAFSC since 2017. A six-member delegation from Nepal, led by Dr. Bhusal, participated in the seminar. On behalf of Nepal, Dr. Bhusal and JAAN Vice President Dr. Kiran Rupakhetee delivered presentations highlighting Nepal’s engagement with JICA-supported initiatives.
Addressing the seminar, the Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, H.E. Mr. Akiko Isomata, said that JAAFSC, as an umbrella organization of JICA alumni in the SAARC region, has been playing a significant role in strengthening cordial relations between Japan and SAARC countries. He noted that the forum has also contributed meaningfully to social and economic development across the region and expressed confidence that it would continue to do so in the future. He further emphasized that such international seminars provide an important platform for alumni from different countries to exchange knowledge, ideas, and experiences.
Mr. Kenji Kuronuma, Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka, stated that social and economic development has become a global priority, making international cooperation and goodwill more important than ever. He highlighted the need for strong networking, coordination, and unity among JAAFSC members across countries and reaffirmed JICA’s continued support for JAAFSC programs and activities.
In his remarks, Dr. Bhusal emphasized Japan’s selfless, reliable, and sustainable support to the SAARC region. He said that countries in South Asia have much to learn from Japan, particularly in terms of honesty, accountability, discipline, punctuality, and the strong work ethic demonstrated by the Japanese people in their professional lives.
The seminar was chaired by Mr. S. M. Sathiacama, President of the JICA Alumni Association of Sri Lanka, who noted that his association had received the opportunity to host such an international seminar for the first time. He expressed hope that the event would further strengthen bilateral relations between Japan and Sri Lanka, as well as enhance cooperation between Japan and other SAARC countries.
During the program, JAAN General Secretary Ms. Shanti Laxmi Shakya presented the activities and achievements of JAAN, while general secretaries of JICA alumni associations from other SAARC countries shared updates on initiatives undertaken in their respective nations.
Established in 2008, JAAFSC serves as an umbrella organization of JICA alumni associations in the SAARC region. Its Secretariat has been based in Kathmandu, Nepal, since 2017. #nepal #jica
