Mr. Hajime Matsumara, Deputy Director at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (OECD Division, Economic Affairs Bureau) in Tokyo paid a courtesy call on the Chief Executive of the SADC Development Finance Resource Centre on Friday, 30th March 2012 to acquaint himself with the operations of the Centre.  Mr. Matsumara was accompanied by Mr. Koki Otsuka, Commercial Attaché at Embassy of Japan in Botswana, and Mr. Hiroyuki Kutsuna, JICA Advisor at the SADC Secretariat.

They were met by the CEO, Mr. Stuart Kufeni, and the Programmes Manager, Dr Herrick Mpuku, and were informed about the activities of the Centre, and in particular its work in the development of the SADC Public Private Partnerships Network.  Mr. Matsumara indicated that Japan was interested in the area of PPPs, and would be willing to explore possible cooperation and support in the field of capacity building.