DILI, 20 january 2022 (TATOLI) – The Japanese Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Kinefuchi Masami emphasized the importance of education and talked about the prospect of sending Timorese workers to Japan in the future.
The Ambassador of Japan referred to the aspiration of many Timorese to go to Japan for work: “Actually, Japan needs many foreign workers because our population is shrinking, and Japan is inviting many workers from various countries. We are now discussing with your government how to make use of our existing schemes,” Kinefuchi made the comments at the inauguration ceremony of Japanese assistance project at Claret Secondary Technical Vocational School (ESTV Claret), in Maudemo Village, Tilomar Administrative Post, Covalima Municipality in a communicative note accessed by TATOLI today.
“I hope, after the Corona pandemic, young Timorese will be able to work in Japan, get expertise and knowledge there, and come back to contribute to the development of their own country. It’s up to the effort of your government to make necessary arrangements,” he added.
The President of the Covalima Municipal Authority, the representatives of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) and the representative of Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEPFOPE), and among others, were present at the ceremony.
The project was to construct two classrooms and a dormitory at ESTV Claret with US$ 90.000.
Ambassador Kinefuchi said that: “Education and Vocational training are very important as Timor-Leste has a big population of youth, and each one of them, in one way or another, will carry the big task of nation building and economic and social development of this country in the future. That is one of the reasons why we need to invest heavily in education in Timor-Leste”.
He said Japan has so far assisted Timor-Leste with the construction of many schools, including primary, secondary schools, and vocational schools across the country, and especially the building of the Engineering Faculty of the National University of Timor-Lorosa’e (UNTL) in Hera, Dili.
Kinefuchi stressed that: “Today’s inauguration means more than just an inauguration of a project for Japan. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the restoration of independence of Timor-Leste, and 20th anniversary of the formal diplomatic relations between Japan and Timor-Leste. Today’s inauguration ceremony is the very first event to start our continuous celebration of the 20th anniversary of our friendship and solidarity,” Kinefuchi said.
“I am so happy to celebrate this moment with you all here today. Japanese assistance to Timor-Leste over more than 20 years has been quite extensive and large in volume, including large-scale infrastructure projects, human resource building, agriculture development, and provision of social services like education, clean water and sanitation, medical services. Japan also implemented 150 smaller scale projects in many local villages in the country,” he said.
He also emphasized: “Timor-Leste and Japan have so many similarities; geography, culture, customs, people’s mindset and so forth. Even our country’s names, Nippon and Loro sa’e mean the same”.
“So, I believe you can achieve what Japan has achieved,” Kinefuchi reiterated Japan’s strong commitment to support the development of Timor-Leste.
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Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafy Belo
