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 Risk Assessment and Monitoring for Environmental Chemicals.

 

First of all, I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you all on your successful completion of this course. I am indeed glad to know that since the opening of this 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.

 

 Overseas participants, more than 6 months have passed since you arrived in Japan. You had a chance to experience the 3 seasons, cold winter, comfortable spring and hot and humid summer. I hope you enjoyed the change of the seasons.

 

It is important to understand the skills for assessment, management and communications of potential risks of environmental chemicals. Though this course presented you with many opportunities to gain techniques and skills required for achieving your training goals, 6 months might not be enough to become acquainted with these techniques. Environmental issues have no border; therefore we need to join hands for the search of the solution.

 

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 this 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, Dr. Hideo OKAWA, and all the lectures and the staff concerned for their kind support to manage such 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.