Mr Yoshiharu Kato : “The Mauritian destination should be made more visible to the Japanese”

Mr Yoshiharu Kato officially is the first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Mauritius. He assumed his duties on 24th August 2017 subsequent to the opening of the Japanese Embassy in January last year. Mr Kato has over 35 years of experience in the diplomatic field and he has been on mission in different countries like Malaysia, the United States and Indonesia. In line with the Japanese Film Festival 2018, the Ambassador is also sharing his views on the many ties between Japan and Mauritius.

You were present at the launching of the Japanese Film Festival 2018. What can you tell us about the cultural exchanges between Japan and Mauritius? How to strengthen this relationship in the future?
As you are aware, our Embassy is new and we are working hard to introduce Japan and the Japanese culture in Mauritius in order to promote and strengthen our friendly relationship. As to sports activities such as martial arts, last year we carried out a karate tournament in collaboration with the Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Federation. Last year, we also organised a Seminar on Productivity Techniques along with the NPCC and the Japan Productivity Center.

Two Japanese experts came to showcase how Japan developed different numbers of productivity improvement techniques after World War II in March 2018. We have had the Japanese Film Festival at several places and we plan to further share our culture during the year through various other cultural activities.

On the other hand, the Japanese do not really know much about Mauritian culture, so we have to work as a bridge to connect the two countries with a view to promoting the Mauritian culture in Japan.

Japan and Mauritius have celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. How do you describe those ties between the two countries?
Both countries share common values such as human rights, rule of law and democracy, and I believe that those factors have contributed to the cordial bilateral relations which have existed between Mauritius and Japan ever since. The opening of the Japanese Embassy in Mauritius is testament to Japan’s increasing interest in Mauritius.

Last year, we had several delegations which came to Mauritius such as Senators from the House of Councilors, visit of the State Minister of Foreign Affairs and visit of the State Minister of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Again we want to strengthen those friendly ties further. I wish I can facilitate a Mauritian delegation visiting Japan soon.

What can you tell us about the economic and business connections? How do you believe we can further cement those alliances?
Our economic relation is also growing very strongly. Japanese companies are looking further for an opportunity to visit Mauritius since last Tokyo International Conference in African Development Summit in Kenya.

Recently, a delegation of Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industries residing in South Africa visited Mauritius in view of exploring investment opportunities in leading industries. The Japanese investors are looking forward to setting up business antennas in Mauritius. 

The Head of Mission of the Japan Business Mission to Mauritius and also Managing Director of Sumitomo Corporation Africa, Mr Kazuyuki Takahashi, expressed a keen interest in building a strong partnership and working together with Mauritius in terms of business ventures and investment prospects, and also to further unlock Mauritius’s and Africa’s potential.

The presence of the Japan Business Mission to Mauritius represents an effort in reinforcing our relationships and these efforts will be perpetuated to enhance the Japanese-Mauritian ties. 

Mauritius and Japan also have a long-standing relationship in areas of trade, investment and tourism. How can we enhance these relations?
As for our bilateral human interaction, I am aware that we have room for improvement. Both of our countries surely have to find ways to enhance this situation. The Mauritian destination should also be made more visible to the Japanese so as to attract more tourists from Japan and we will also like to have more Mauritians visit Japan.

Until recent statistics, the number of Japanese in Mauritius including permanent residents is about 50 people and we have only about 2,500 Japanese travelling to Mauritius annually.

As far as trade is concerned, I know there is an imbalance. Mauritian products are not easily accessible and visible in Japan. But the Mauritian rum and sugar, for example, are already imported by several Japanese companies. I hope that both sides will make efforts for trade promotion.

Japan is known for being at the forefront of innovation. How can Mauritius benefit from Japanese expertise? 
Mauritius, being a Small Island Developing State, faces the same natural conditions as Japan, which consists of a number of small islands. We are highly vulnerable to extreme weather events such as intense typhoons which are referred to as cyclones in the Indian Ocean, and sea level rise. Japan has often been hit by powerful earthquakes followed by tsunamis. From these experiences, Japan created the advanced disaster risk management and early warning system. Therefore Japan is in a better position to share its knowledge and experience with Mauritius. 

Japan is also providing technical assistance to Mauritius in the context of bilateral Development Cooperation. We offer various types of training programs to the Mauritians in public and private sectors and the dispatch of Japanese experts to Mauritius, for example.

I can give you some good examples. In 2013, a grant agreement was signed between the Government of Japan and the Government of Mauritius for the project for the improvement of the Meteorological Radar System at Trou aux Cerfs, which will be operational this year. In addition, JICA also provides assistance in reducing the risk of coastal erosion. Different sites prone to potential land sliding have been identified around Mauritius and have been assessed by JICA with a view to addressing the issue of landslide management in the country.

Besides, the Government of Japan provides scholarships program each year to Mauritian Government officials and students.

Mauritius positions itself as a regional hub for Africa and an investment destination. How can Japan profit from this to invest further in Africa?
Over the past years, there have been lots of positive reports about investment in the African continent. It is worthwhile taking into consideration that Mauritius is a member of the major African regional organizations such as the African Union, South African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC).

I hope that major Japanese companies are starting to think about possibilities of extending their businesses to this emerging investment destination based on their assessment and judgement.