Kloulubak left to Japan yesterday to attend the program and will return to Palau on Oct. 10.
Kloulubak is presently the National Energy Planner of the Ministry of Resources and Development.The government of Japan has invited nine young leaders from the Pacific Island Forum members including Palau who are engaged in the policy making areas in regards to energy in their respective countries.In May 2006, during the 4th Pacific Islands Leader’s meeting in Japan, the leaders have adopted the agreement that Japan will assist the efforts PIF members in implementing the Pacific Plan in which sustainable and development and renewable energy were identified among the priority areas for development.The program will provide participants with the opportunities to have a deeper understanding of the technologies of Japan.Charge d’ Affaires Kunio Nakamura said that Kloulubak was the most suitable person for the program.In Japan, Kloulubak will visit the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry of Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan External Trade Organization, National University of Kyushu Kyosera Solar Energy Center in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture, Saga University and the site of the Ocean of Thermal Energy Conversion, Pacific Island Center and Genkai Energy Park.The Palau representative will be joined by other scholars from Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Nauru, and Vanuatu.Each participant will present a country report on the current situation and problems of energy in their countries.“In 1986, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) initiated the young leaders invitation program. Since then, over 200 young people from Pacific Island countries have been invited to Japan to partake in various trainings,” Nakamura said.Nakamura adde that participants are selected based on their potential to play leading roles in the near future, in the government as well as the community with their respective countries.He added that the program is aimed to enhance the participants understanding and knowledge of Japan and to strengthen bilateral relationship between Japan and PIF.
