JAAN receives Japan's Foreign Minister’s Commendation

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Dec. 22: JICA Alumni Association of Nepal (JAAN) has bagged Japan's Foreign Minister’s Commendation for FY2023.

KIKUTA Yutaka, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, handed the Foreign Minister’s Commendation for FY2023 to JAAN president Ram Chandra Bhusal amidst a ceremony at his official residence today.

The Foreign Minister’s Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries and areas. The Commendations also aim to promote understanding and support from the Japanese public regarding the activities of the recipients.

JAAN was awarded the Commendation on August 22, 2023, in recognition of its significant contributions over the years to the development of mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and Nepal.

JAAN was established in 1973 as an alumni association by Nepali trainees and students who received various training and academic education in Japan under JICA program.

For half a century, JAAN has been producing many important personalities in political and business circles. Some of them are serving as Chief Secretaries, Secretaries and Joint Secretaries in various ministries of Nepal, contributing to the development of Nepal using the knowledge and experience gained from training in Japan. JAAN has also organized various events to share their skills and knowledge, as well as events to celebrate the anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Nepal.

On the occasion, Ambassador Kikuta congratulated JAAN on receiving the Foreign Minister’s Commendation as a testament to the friendship between Japan and Nepal and said that JAAN’s efforts and contributions are truly worthy of the Commendation.

The ambassador also expressed his confidence that JAAN and its members will continue to take the lead in the development of Nepal. This year, 2023, is the half-century anniversary of JAAN.

At the ceremony, Dr. Ram Chandra Bhusal, the President of JAAN, stated that this year has become the most memorable year for JAAN.

He also expressed their great appreciation to the Government and people of Japan and their ambition that the members make further efforts to contribute more for the development of Nepal and JAAN and to serve as a bridge between Japan and Nepal to strengthen their good relations. 

Full text of the speech of JAAN President Dr. Ram Chandra Bhusal at the ceremony:

H. E. Mr. Yutaka Kikuta, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal; Mr. Akimitsu Okubo, Chief Representative of JICA Nepal, High Officials from the Embassy of Japan and JICA Nepal; Honorable Mr. Balananda Paudel, Chairperson, National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission, Honorable Dr. Ram Krishna Timalsena,  Chairperson, National Inclusion Commission, Dr. Baikuntha Aryal, Chief Secretary, Govt of Nepal; Present and Past Secretaries, Joint Secretaries, Past Presidents of JAAN, Executive Committee Members, JAAN Life Members,  Media Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen

First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Government of Japan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs for awarding the Foreign Minister’s Commendation to JICA Alumni Association of Nepal (JAAN). Also, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to H. E. Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Mr. Yutaka Kikuta and the Embassy of Japan for recognizing JAAN with such a prestigious award and organizing such a wonderful Award Handover Ceremony today.

We are grateful for receiving this valuable Award in our Golden Jubilee Year which has certainly made the existence of JAAN more remarkable. JAAN was established in 1973 (fifty years before) and is always playing a bridging role and have been supporting to both the countries people in their difficult situation also. In 2011 Sendai Earthquake and Tsunami, we have collected donation from our JAAN members and had sent the donation to Japan through the Embassy of Japan. Similarly, Japan Nepal Society collected fund to support 2015 Nepal earthquake victims and was sent to JAAN. We have distributed it to our working areas earthquake victims. These are only few examples how JAAN is playing its bridging role between Nepal and Japan. Now JAAN activities have reached on the local, national as well as international level.

Your Excellency, Distinguished Guest and Participants,

I spent more than seven years in Japan as the JICA Trainee and for my higher study in the Japanese University, and have been working in the Executive Committee of JAAN continuously since eighteen years as the Executive Committee Member, General Secretary and President. During my involvement in JAAN, I got an opportunity to visit all JICA Offices and JICA alumni in SAARC region and JICA Head Office in Tokyo. I was fortunate to attend a meeting with the Honorable Foreign Minister of Japan and JICA Headquarter Executive Senior Vice President during their very short visit to Nepal and had briefed about our activities one year before. I am very thankful to the H. E. Kikuta and JICA Chief Representative Mr. Okubo for providing such opportunities for me.

Today I would like to remember our senior members efforts who established JAAN 50 years ago with an objective of promoting Nepal Japan friendship. Some founder members of JAAN are also present in this program today. Dear all senior members, I would like to appreciate your efforts you did 50 years before. To continue volunteer services till this date was not an easy task. There is proverb in Japan “Beginning is easy – continuing is hard”. But JAAN has been working effectively with its clear objective, maintaining good governance both internally and externally and getting good results in its each and every effort. It was possible due to its qualified and dedicated members, strong networking and kind cooperation of our parent organizations Embassy of Japan and JICA Nepal.

JAAN members have held important positions as chairpersons of some commissions, chief secretary, secretaries, Joint secretaries and high level responsibility in various governmental and non-governmental organizations and have been contributing for the nation-building and promotion of Nepal Japan friendship.

JAAN has been contributing to strengthen cordial relations between Nepal and Japan through its several activities since long time back.  We JAAN members have been playing our role as a Goodwill Ambassadors of Nepal to Japan during our stay in Japan and at present in Nepal as Goodwill Ambassadors of Japan to Nepal. As the president of JAAN, I am feeling that this prestigious award is recognition of continuous efforts for our bridging role for Nepal Japan relation. This award will encourage me and all JAAN members to work more for strengthening good relation between Nepal and Japan in the days to come.

Finally, once again I would like to express my sincere gratitude to H. E. Ambassador Kikuta for this recognition award to JAAN and for organizing special award ceremony today. Similarly, I would like to thank  all the distinguished guests, seniors, JAAN members and media friends for your kind participation in this program today.

Kikuta Taishi, taihen osewa ni narimashita, doumo aarigatou gojaimashita, korekaramo yoroshiku onegaiitashimasu. 

Thank you very much.