President’s Greetings



	At the beginning of 2012, I would like to extend New Year’s Greetings to you all. Last year big earthquakes hit the eastern part of Japan and I am extremely grateful for the great support and warm encouragement which were provided by overseas, particularly by countries from which participants once joined KITA/ JICA Training Courses immediately after the disaster. 　　Looking over the situations not only in Japan but worldwide, such as financial crisis in Europe, economic stagnation in the United States, terrible disasters in Japan, and heavy floods in Thailand, I fully recognized that the changes in the economy and environment of one nation can start a chain reaction and lead to global-scale economic contraction. I have been much concerned about when the world economy will recover. 　　Such changes have also led to modifications in the system at JICA, which provides most of the training programs for KITA. The training courses are now being reviewed to make implementation more efficient and to make the contents and composition of the programs more substantial in order to respond to changes in international circumstances. 　　Meanwhile, City of Kitakyushu has promoted forward-looking initiatives in addressing environmental issues, such as the development of the Environmental Model City, the Green Asia International Strategic Comprehensive Special Zone, and the Kitakyushu Asian Center for Low Carbon Society. Various projects have been implemented by them to provide good models in Japan and around the world in this field. 　　As stated above, the circumstances around KITA will be undergoing great change, including its impending transition to a public interest incorporated foundation. Even so, KITA has continued its contribution to the progress of developing countries to meet the demands of the times and also promoted the activities corresponding to the environmental policies of , City of Kitakyushu. However, the reform of KITA, as a thirty-one-year-old organization, is a pressing concern, in order to meet transforming circumstances. 　　　　　　Given these conditions, we set up the following business policies last year. 　　　　1) Maintaining its founding principles and utilizing the geographical advantage of Kitakyushu 　　2) Establishing internal cooperation among the divisions of KITA 　　3) Strengthening the partnership with , City of Kitakyushu as well as JICA 　　4) Surveying and finding overseas needs and establishing KITA networks with former participants 　　5) Improving the revenue of KITA and securing profitability in each division 　　6) Expanding infrastructure 　　7) Securing transparency and disclosing information followed by the shift to a public interest incorporated foundation. 　　　　In order to deal with the demands of the times, we will maintain and strengthen these policies this year. Based on the founding principles to which we have adhered since its establishment, KITA will contribute to the development of developing countries by utilizing technology and knowledge accumulated in Kitakyushu City. 　　I would like to ask for your continued support and understanding. Finally, I wish everyone the best of luck during this year
	(This "New Year's Ggreetings" are posted on KITA NEWS No.12 published in January, 2012)
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