A-PAD International Leadership Holds Strategic Dialogue with Director General of International Cooperation Bureau at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo, Japan

A‑PAD International leadership paid a courtesy visit to senior officials of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), including Assistant Minister and Director-General Mr. Takao Imafuku, Director Mr. Kenzo Iwakami, and Assistant Director Ms. Ayako Koide. The meeting underscored the enduring partnership that has underpinned A-PAD’s humanitarian efforts throughout the region.

Discussions highlighted how A-PAD’s collaborative approach – uniting government agencies, private enterprises, and civil society organizations – has facilitated both immediate disaster response and sustained community resilience-building in vulnerable areas. A-PAD’s team illustrated how early backing from MOFA has consistently triggered broader local funding commitments, extending emergency aid to greater numbers of affected populations during crises including the previous year’s cyclonic events and flooding. MOFA representatives acknowledged A-PAD’s increasing strategic importance given evolving regional circumstances and emphasized co-creation as a cornerstone of Japan’s Official Development Assistance framework.

Representatives from A-PAD’s national platforms in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Korea subsequently presented achievements realized through the regional network – ranging from enhanced government-military collaboration and corporate sector involvement to broadened healthcare initiatives and youth-driven disaster preparedness programs. MOFA officials praised A-PAD’s rapid and impactful interventions, citing critical relief operations in Sri Lanka and Myanmar, while encouraging ongoing innovation, especially regarding corporate resource mobilization and deployment of cutting-edge Japanese technological solutions.

The exchange concluded with mutual recognition that regional threats are evolving and collaborative frameworks must adapt accordingly. Both parties departed with renewed commitment to maintaining close communication, exchanging operational insights, and advancing the practical partnership that has already delivered measurable benefits to Asia-Pacific communities.