After a successful tour of duty as Ambassador to the Republic of Botswana and Special Representative to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), His Excellency Mr. Masahiro Onishi on 9th October, 2017 bade farewell to the SADC Executive Secretary, Her Excellency Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax at a meeting held at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana.
Ambassador Onishi formally informed the SADC Executive Secretary that he will be leaving Botswana at the end of October 2017. Ambassador Onishi expressed gratitude to SADC for the good working relationship that he enjoyed during his three-year tenure of office. He assured SADC that the incoming Ambassador will continue to strengthen the relationship that exist between SADC and Japan, and to deepen collaboration for regional development.
On her part, Her Excellency Dr. Tax wished Ambassador Onishi personal good health and success in his future undertakings. Dr. Tax also expressed gratitude to the Ambassador for strengthening the cooperation between SADC and the Government of Japan, specifically for facilitating the launch of the SADC Project on Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forest Resources in Southern Africa in 2015, and the energy project profiling programme.
The Sustainable Management of Forest Resources in Southern Africa Project is for a period of five years and is supported by the Government of Japan, through the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA). The project is aimed at enhancing the capacity of SADC Member States in sustainable forest management and conservation.
During the visit to the Secretariat, Ambassador Onishi was accompanied by Yu Nakao, Researcher/Advisor from Embassy of Japan in Botswana.
