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 | The Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr Joe Nakano (in garland) and the Ambassador of Japan to Fiji, His Excellency Mr Eiichi Oshima while on tour of the Multi Purpose Theatre accompanied by the Director of ITS, Mr Kisione Finau and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration and Regional Campuses), Dr Esther Williams. |
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A delegation led by the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr Joe Nakano and the Ambassador of Japan to Fiji, His Excellency Mr Eiichi Oshima visited the University of the South Pacific on 30 August, 2012.
A special welcome was accorded to the delegation at the Japan-Pacific ICT Centre, located at the University’s main Laucala Campus in Suva.
The team was received by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration and Regional Campuses), Dr Esther Williams including a number of other University staff members.
“We are indeed very happy and appreciative that despite your short stay in Suva, you have allowed some time to visit us and to witness for yourself this very fine Japan-Pacific ICT Centre, which is a magnificent contribution from your Government and the people of Japan to the people of the Pacific,” said Dr Williams in her welcoming remarks.
She spoke of the longstanding relationship between USP and Japan and added that historically, the University has benefited greatly from the support of the Government of Japan and its people.
“The Marine Studies complex at the Lower Campus, the USPNET Enhancement, the ICT Human Capacity project and the most recent Kizuna project all bear testament to the strong and growing relationship between Japan and USP and through it to the people of the Pacific Islands.”
During the visit, the delegation was given a tour of the Japan-Pacific ICT Centre which accommodates the University’s entire Information and Computing Technology facility including remote teaching/learning resources with fully equipped specialist equipments, computer labs, offices, video conference rooms, server rooms plus the state-of the-art Multi Purpose Theatre.
The centre also houses a JICA Technical Cooperation project on ICT for Human Development and Human Security as well as hosts a number of very important ICT-related regional and international offices.
“We are forever grateful to your Government and the people of Japan for this facility. It is a gift that generations of young people in the Pacific will benefit from for a very long time,” Dr Williams said referring to the Japan-Pacific ICT Centre.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor said she was hopeful that Honourable Joe Nakano and his team would take back good memories of their short visit and tour of the Japan-Pacific ICT Centre.
The delegation departed Fiji on 31st August.
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