RIYADH, 13 July 2005 — A group of 18 junior Saudi education officials left for Tokyo yesterday in response to an invitation extended by Japanese government. They will exchange information and share experience with their Japanese counterparts in the fields of education, culture and technology.
The study tour was organized within the framework of the Youth Friendship Program (YFP), launched jointly by Saudi and Japanese governments way back in 1998.
“The officials, mainly from the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVOT), will learn from Japanese experience during this trip,” said Kiyofumi Nakauchi, JICA resident representative.
Nakauchi was speaking during a farewell party organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The function was also attended by other senior officials including GOTEVOT Vice Governor Dr. Khaled Al-Angari.
Nakauchi said this program of youth exchange under which 18 junior Saudi staff have left for Tokyo would further boost relations between the two countries. “The Saudi and the Japanese governments realize that it is essential to bring the young of the two countries closer to each other through exchange of visits to promote mutual understanding,” said the JICA chief. The YFP participants will stay in Japan for 25 days.
Nakauchi said the GOTEVOT participants would have an opportunity to promote their technical skills, exchange cultural knowledge and develop their experience in different technical fields during their stay in Japan. They will also have the chance to learn various aspects of Japanese life because they will be staying in a family environment.
“The participants will also attend some lectures and scientific study tours to be organized by a panel of Japanese professors and specialists,” said the JICA chief. He said talented young people from Saudi Arabia, who were likely to move into positions of leadership in the future, were regularly invited to Japan for training and familiarization. Since 1960, a significant number of Saudi officials have participated in various training courses. In 2005 alone, a total of 1,705 young people form 124 countries including the Gulf states will be invited to Japan.
