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- Efforts to Build Multi-layered Relationships between Japan and Pacific Island Nations
Ocean Newsletter
No.581 October 20, 2024
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Efforts to Build Multi-layered Relationships between Japan and Pacific Island Nations
SHIOZAWA Hideyuki (Director, Division of Island Nations, Ocean Policy Research Institute, Sasakawa Peace Foundation)
The situation in the Pacific island region is becoming more complicated due to the expansion of geopolitical competition, the strengthening of sovereignty of Pacific island countries, and the increase in development partners involved in the region. Japan has built close relationships with Pacific island countries through people-to-people ties, fishing, development cooperation, etc., but changes in the regional situation and the impact of the ALPS treated water issue have reduced Japan's influence in the region. It was against this background that the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) held in July 2024 and the Pacific Island Nations Weeks organized by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation became a new starting point for restoring trust between the two parties and building multi-layered relationships for the future.
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The Pacific Ocean, Samoa, and Traditional Culture
Brian T. Alofaituli (Senior Lecturer, National University of Samoa / Executive Director, Research & Education from the Pacific)
Samoan Knowledge Systems (SKS) are interrelated ‘ways of knowing,’ using Samoa’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and provide a cultural context to ocean preservation. This essay briefly highlights the value of Samoan Knowledge Systems woven into culture, history, development, modernity, and globalization.
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Human Resource Development in the Energy Sector for Pacific Island Nations
OGAWA Tadayuki (Senior Advisor, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA))
Pacific Island Countries(PICs) face various challenges in the energy sector, such as low energy self-sufficiency ratio and high risk of energy security. A "hybrid power generation system" in which an optimal combination of power generation through renewable energy including solar photovoltaic (PV) system and Diesel Engine Generators (DEG) complements each other to minimize the impact of climate change while realizing a stable power supply, and technical cooperation projects for human resource development are becoming more important to build a system for sustainably maintaining and managing the system within each country and the entire region.