JICA and Hokkaido Prefecture conclude a memorandum on comprehensive cooperation

2022年02月15日

On February 15, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a memorandum of comprehensive cooperation with Hokkaido Prefecture. The signing ceremony was held online in the presence of JICA President KITAOKA Shinichi and Hokkaido Governor SUZUKI Naomichi.

This memorandum aims at strengthening the partnership between JICA and Hokkaido Prefecture and at cooperating in the promotion of a society with multicultural coexistence and SDGs.

So far, JICA has worked with Hokkaido Prefecture mainly in international cooperation activities. While population decline in Hokkaido is progressing faster than the national average, the rate of increase in the number of foreign residents is higher than in other prefectures. A survey conducted by JICA showed that promotion of a society with multicultural coexistence and the acceptance of foreign workers for the sustainable development of Hokkaido was needed. JICA will deepen its partnership with Hokkaido in order to contribute to its sustainable development, its globalization, and the revitalization of the area.

In the memorandum, three principles of cooperation are presented as listed below.