Japan looking at Barbados hub

 Japan is considering this island as a hub for its tourists who want to experience what this region has to offer.

 

This from Japan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Barbados, Teruhiko Shinada, during a courtesy call to The Barbados Advocate yesterday.  The point was made that with the increasing number of Japanese visitors looking to move around the world to enjoy travel experiences, Barbados represents a viable hub which could be a springboard to other countries in the region also.  

 

Ambassador Shinada highlighted the changes which had recently come with the establishment of the new embassy in Barbados, and maintained this would aid in deepening the already strong relationship between the two countries.

 

 “Barbados was covered by our embassy in Trinidad, but last year Japan opened a new Embassy here,” he noted.  

 

During that launch last March, then Head of Mission, Ambassador Mitsuhiko Okada, who was Ambassador of Japan  to Trinidad, spoke of the relationship in significant detail, stating:  “The establishment of this embassy is a clear indication of Japan’s ever-increasing engagement with the Caribbean Community,”he said. 

 

Okada added that the Japan-CARICOM Summit Meeting in Trinidad was the precursor to the existing relations, as Prime Minister of Japan, His Excellency Shinzo Abe, and Prime Minister The Right Honourable Freundel Stuart discussed Japan’s new policy towards the Caribbean region. Okada noted at that time that Japan will utilise its technologies and expertise to lend support in areas such as adaptation and mitigation of climate change, disaster risk reduction, and renewable energy. 

 

Managing Director and Chairman of the Barbados Advocate, Anthony T. Bryan highlighted the strong relations which Barbados and Japan enjoyed. This, he added, could be seen in the love which Barbadians have for the motor vehicles which the country produced, namely Toyotas, and the long history and affinity which this island has with those cars.  

 

   Bryan also praised Japan for its resilience after its challenges following the tsunamis of 2011 and 2016, and other natural disasters.

 

 “It (Japan) had some set-backs recently...but you will come back because you are blessed,” Bryan said.  

 

Ambassador Shinada added that his country was known for its resilience and continued to make the investment required to ensure that its country continues to develop.