YT Editor meets Japan-Yemen Friendship Association in Tokyo:More efforts exerted to promoting Japan-Yemen relations [Archives:2004/756/Last Page]

YT Editor
Tokyo
The Tokyo-based Japan-Yemen Friendship Association (JYFA) has pledged to continue promoting Japan-Yemen relations through all possible means. During a meeting with Yemen Times Editor Walid Al-Saqqaf in Tokyo, the association's senior members expressed their commitment to carrying out projects and activities in Japan to introduce Yemen to as many Japanese possible, and to encourage travel to and tourism in Yemen.
JYFA's secretary general, Mr. Toshihiro Teshima, told Yemen Times that the association will help in preparing the Yemeni contribution to the important Aichi Expo 2005 event to be held between March 25 and September 25, 2005 in Aichi, Japan. The international event will include Yemen alongside more than 100 other countries.
“I am proud to say that our work as an association has contributed positively to Yemen-Japan relations, especially through our regular newsletters, whose 11th issue was recently published with news about a Japanese delegation visiting Yemen's Socotra Island and also meeting President Saleh there.” Mr. Teshima said.
Specifically the association is expected to promote Yemeni Mocha and Bani Matar genuine coffee part of the exhibition, which will be an opportunity to expose Yemen's culture and locally produced goods.
On the other hand, the association also said it would help in arranging the Yemeni heritage festival to be held during 2-3 October this year. “The event is expected to be attended by more than 40,000 visitors.” Mr. Teshima commented.

Association recovering and growing
Despite the sudden decline in the number of members of the association following the Asian recession in 1997, which resulted in the sudden drop of the number from 150 to around 80 today, the association is now receiving more membership enquiries. “There were many reasons for the decline of the number of members and JYFA associate companies, including the recession of 1997, the fact that the managing director of the association then was appointed in the government, along with other factors concerned with senior members getting appointed to public posts or becoming too old.” Mr. Teshima explained.

JYFA and YJFA
The JYFA was founded in 1996 as a commemoration of the visit to Japan of Dr. Abdulkareem Al-Iryani, who was then the Yemeni prime minister. Its counterpart in Yemen, the Yemeni Japanese Friendship Association (YJFA), which is headed by Haj Mohammed Mubarak Adhban, chairman of Adhban Group of Companies, is also active in Yemen to promote the relations between the two countries.
On Mr. Adhban's efforts, Mr. Teshima affirms, “Mr. Adhban has truly dedicated a lot of his time and energy to the association, which has in turn resulted in strong relations between the two countries. In fact, the YFJA is a source of inspiration for us here, and we are working hard to rise to the expectations of our friends in Yemen.”
On relations between the two associations, Mr. Teshima also revealed that there is currently a project to sponsor two students currently studying Japanese at the YJFA to travel to Japan for an information visit of 10 days.
Furthermore, through coordination with its Yemeni counterpart, the JYFA has donated 100 picture books, 10 Arabic-Japanese dictionaries and 85 soccer balls to Yemenis. “This is a humble step, but I believe many will continue in the future. It is encouraging and motivating to see that Haj Adhban, the YJFA, and Yemeni people have welcomed their Japanese friends in every visit and through every channel. I believe this makes us more committed in our association to help strengthen the unique relationship between our two countries.” Mr. Teshima concluded.
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