Consul General Uchikawa’s official visit to Newfoundland and Labrador (November 12-14)
From November 12 to 14, Consul General Uchikawa and his spouse paid an official visit to Newfoundland and Labrador.
They paid a courtesy call on Lieutenant Governor Joan Marie Aylward and her spouse, exchanging views on the friendly relations between Japan and Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as on shared social issues. The Lieutenant Governor addressed topics of interest related to Japan. Mr. and Mrs. Uchikawa also introduced the JET Programme and the MEXT Scholarships, among other topics.
They met with Premier Andrew Furey to discuss the current and future state of Japan-Newfoundland and Labrador relations, focusing on areas such as fisheries, minerals, and energy. The Consul General also requested his continued support in ensuring the safety of local Japanese residents and introduced the JET Programme and the MEXT Scholarships.
The couple visited the House of Assembly, where they met Speaker Derek Bennett, with whom they exchanged views on Japan-Newfoundland and Labrador relations in the areas of marine and mineral resources. The Speaker also gave them a tour of the House of Assembly, explaining the building’s history. During this visit, Mr. and Mrs. Uchikawa introduced the JET Programme and the MEXT Scholarships.
Mr. and Mrs. Uchikawa met with Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology Andrew Parsons to discuss Japan-Newfoundland and Labrador economic relations, including topics such as renewable energy, mineral resources, and human resources.
They also met with Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation Steve Crocker to exchange views on the tourism attractions in the province.
The couple paid a courtesy visit to the Mayor of St. John’s Danny Breen, where they learned about the history of the city and had an interesting discussion regarding the current situation regarding immigration. Once more, the Consul General requested his continued support in ensuring the safety and well-being of local Japanese residents and addressed the topic of the JET Programme and the MEXT Scholarships.
They met with Deputy Minister, Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills Sharlene Jones, to exchange views on the province’s immigration policy.
They met with Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture Scott Jones to discuss the province's relationship with Japan in the fishing industry and assess the current state of this sector in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mr. and Mrs. Uchikawa also met with President and Vice Chancellor pro tempore at Memorial University Neil Bose, who is also a submarine specialist, to discuss the past exchanges between Memorial University and Japan, as well as strategies to strengthen their ties. Together, they also discussed the JET Programme and the MEXT Scholarships.
Additionally, the couple visited the Marine Institute of Memorial University, where they met the institute’s Associate Vice-President, Kevin Anderson, who provided an explanation of the research conducted at the institute and of its innovative facilities.