Projects

FY2009

Exchange program for Young Asian Parliamentarians

Project contents
The Asian parliamentarians invited to Japan are, in most cases, members of the cabinet-level government or individuals further up in the administration, with the few exceptions to the rule coming by invitation of organizations in the private sector. Furthermore, the number of programs through which such members of parliament are invited to Japan is dwindling. In this project, which will be conducted in part by SPF and in part by outsourcing, young Asian parliamentarians who would otherwise have scarce opportunity to visit Japan are be invited to the country in a bid to strengthen links between Japan and Asia and promote understanding of Japan in the Asian region. While in Japan, members of the visiting group will exchange opinions with Japanese members of parliament, politicians, persons in the financial world, and the Japanese intelligentsia, and participate in short-term training suited to the members' country of origin.
Implementation plan
In the second year of this five-year project, the following activities will be carried out.

  • Invitation of Cambodian parliamentarians to Japan (7 days): Six parliamentarians, as well as one coordinator, will be invited to Japan.
    • The group will exchange opinions with Japanese members of parliament, politicians, persons in the financial world, and the Japanese intelligentsia, and take part in a short-term training course on a theme chosen at the request of the Cambodian group.
    • All tasks involved in selection of parliamentarians, pre-visit briefing, and follow-up activities will be outsourced to a Cambodian organization.
  • Invitation of Mongolian parliamentarians to Japan (7 days): Six parliamentarians and one coordinator from Mongolia will be invited to Japan at the same time as the Cambodian parliamentarians are visiting the country.
    • The group will exchange opinions with Japanese members of parliament, politicians, persons in the financial world, and the Japanese intelligentsia, and take part in a short-term training course on a theme chosen at the request of the Mongolian group.
    • All tasks involved in selection of the delegates, pre-visit briefing, and follow-up activities will be outsourced to the Mongolian Development Research Center.
  • Preparation, coordination, and domestic costs
    • SPF program officers will visit Cambodia and Mongolia to discuss the timing and content of the invitation program.  On the basis of these discussions, a contract will be drawn up for outsourcing work to cooperating organizations.
    • In Japan, necessary coordination will be carried out, the program of the visit outlined, and a reception prepared for the visiting parties.
Project Results
This project invites multiparty delegations of young members of parliament (MPs) from countries in Asia to meet with leading figures in Japanese politics as well as business. Study trips are also offered on a variety of topics in line with the specific needs of the countries involved. Delegations from Cambodia and Mongolia were invited again this year. Six MPs from Cambodia visited Japan for the week of August 23, 2010. The delegation met with ruling and opposition party members and attended a presentation on Japanese agricultural technologies and agricultural cooperatives conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-Zenchu). The MPs then took a trip to Tochigi Prefecture to learn about organic farming methods and other agricultural technologies and distribution systems at the Faculty of Agriculture at Utsunomiya University, the Rural Leaders Training Center (Asian Rural Institute) and other institutions. From Mongolia five MPs visited Japan for the week of February 14, 2011. The trip focused on energy and the environment, resource development, and manufacturing. The delegation made a courtesy visit to the prime minister, and met with members of the ruling and opposition parties. A joint three-party seminar was held with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and legislators from both countries. In Tokyo's Ota City, the MPs visited the Ota City Industrial Promotion rganization as well as small and medium-sized companies in the area, and exchanged opinions with young owners of small business .

Implementing Agency The Sasakawa Peace Foundation Secretariat of National Assembly of Cambodia (Cambodia), Mongolian Development Research Center (Mongol) Year Implementation year(1/5)
Project Type Self OperatedGrantCommissionedOther Year project budget implementation 7,775,689yen