Honorable Guests, Overseas Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen:

On behalf of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, I have the pleasure of saying a few words on the occasion of the closing ceremony for the group training course on System of the Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas.

First of all, I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you all on your successful completion of the course. I am indeed glad to know that since the opening of the course, you have positively participated in the program and have been eager to enhance your knowledge and skills. I sincerely pay my respect to all of you who have shown full cooperation for the effective operation of the course.

During the rapid economic growth in 1960 and 1970, the Seto Inland Sea, which is the largest inland sea in Japan, suffered a serious contamination, and Japanese people struggled against it, and fortunately succeeded in improving the water quality. Therefore, it is our responsibility as well as our pleasure to share Japan’s experiences with other countries and to introduce them the effective measures in advance to avoid the same failure as we had done.

It is our sincere hope that you will make the best use of what you have learned and gained in Japan through lectures, observations, field trips and so forth when you go back and resume your duties there with expert knowledge and thus contribute to the further development of your respective services.

I also believe that the training course created friendly relationship among the participants and the Japanese people. I hope that those relationships will continue in the future.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are at the closing ceremony today. However, our friendship is not closing nor is the day to say good-bye. From today on, you are a member of JICA alumni association. If you need our help, we are always ready to support you in any way possible.

Before closing my speech, I would like to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to the course leader, Professor Emeritus of Hiroshima University, Dr. Osamu Matsuda and International EMECS Center, and also all the lectures and staff concerned for their kind support to manage such an outstanding training course. The course could never have been successfully concluded without their outstanding dedication. I also would like to ask for the further support in the future.

Lastly, I wish every one of you all the health and prosperity in future and have a safe return trip.

Thank you.