News

Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago – 11 March, 2025 – H.E. Noemí Espinoza Madrid, Secretary General of the ACS, met with representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to explore opportunities for collaboration in key sectors such as disaster risk management, renewable energy, and digital transformation.

The JICA delegation included Mr. Kota Sakaguchi, Director of the JICA Office in the Dominican Republic, Ms. Haruna Mori, Representative of the Project Management Division for CARICOM Member States, and Ms. Rebeca Goetz, Program Officer for the same division.

The meeting underscored Japan’s role as an Observer State of the ACS and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to strengthening relations with JICA to advance regional priorities. Secretary General Espinoza Madrid highlighted priority areas for future collaboration with JICA, including disaster risk management, digital transformation, marine conservation, and private sector investment.

The discussion centered on JICA's support for climate resilience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), digital economic growth initiatives, renewable energy solutions, and strategies for attracting private investment. Both ACS and JICA reaffirmed their dedication to sustainable development and pledged to enhance technical cooperation, knowledge exchange, and investment within the Greater Caribbean. JICA's significant contributions to the region are evident in its past initiatives, which have bolstered disaster resilience, sustainable fisheries, public health, and renewable energy.

Notable projects include the Caribbean Disaster Management Project (CADM), the Caribbean Fisheries Co-Management Project, and the COVID-19 Regional Health Security Project in partnership with CARPHA. JICA has also fostered strong partnerships with key regional institutions such as the CARICOM Secretariat, CDEMA, and CRFM to deliver technical cooperation projects addressing critical challenges.