Usui worked for an electronic company in Japan. After retiring from the private company at 56, he joined JICA in October 2004.
“Three years before my retirement I was working in Shanghai, I was in charge of a big project, and I realized I wanted to work outside of Japan,” Usui said in an interview. That’s when he decided to work for JICA, he said.
Palau is Usui’s second overseas assignment. The first one was in Bhutan where he worked for five years.
“Palau is a very beautiful country; and the people are very friendly,” Usui said. Although he has only been on the island for more than three weeks and hasn’t really explored the tourist spots yet, he said he’s very impressed of the people’s hospitality.
He said as Resident Representative of JICA, he will do his best to contribute to the development of the good relationships between Palau and Japan through JICA activities.
“I also expect JICA volunteers to find something new in Palau that they can’t find in Japan. It’s a good opportunity for them to find something new,” Usui said. “We have to make a good environment for our volunteers so they can work their best and be happy with their job.”
JICA’s programs are focused on five sectors: education, health, environment, economic development and public services.
For each sector, JICA has volunteers and experts helping with the ministries and different agencies.
“For example, Math books are sometimes difficult for students to understand,” Usui said. “So our volunteers proposed new textbooks with more pictures and written in Palauan.”
In the environmental sector, JICA has two major developments: coral reef monitoring and solid waste management.
JICA Palau, which was established in 1997, is the implementation agency of Japan’s Official Development Assistance. Other JICA programs include technical cooperation project, grant aid, training programs for overseas participant and young leaders, among others.
