The ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) in cooperation with theRemote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC) and Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) organized the Japan Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science or “Sakura Science Program 2021”. The program objective is to improve human capacity, especially for young generation officers who will play a critical role in the field of science and technology in the future, for agriculture knowledge and its utilization through Japanese science and technology.

This time the program is designed in two stages with 15 participants from almost ASEAN Member countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The first stage is introduction of the program through online training on January 28, 2021 and February 4, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the second stage is actual visit in Japan in the second half of 2021.

In the open ceremony, the program was honored by Mr. Kaname IKEDA, President of RESTEC, and Dr. Waraporn Saelee, AFSIS Manager, to open the remarks. They highlighted the great cooperation and success in past several years in commitment to continue implementing the Sakura Science Program in conducting the training on the utilization of remote sensing technology for agricultural statistics and experiences in Japanese culture and technology.