Press Releases

Japan-Saint Lucia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

December 14, 2024
Foreign Minister Iwaya shaking hands with Minister Baptiste
The two ministers holding a meeting

On December 14, commencing at 6:10 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with Hon. Alva Romanus Baptiste, Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs of Saint Lucia, who is visiting Japan to attend the Eighth Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Level Conference. The overview is as follows.

  1. At the outset, Minister Iwaya welcomed the visit to Japan by Minister Baptiste on the occasion of the Eighth Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-Level Conference held on the same day.
  2. Minister Iwaya noted on Japan’s provision of support over the past decade towards overcoming the vulnerabilities particular to small island states and sustainable development, in line with the three pillars of Japan’s CARICOM policy. In addition, he stated that, Japan has decided to newly dispatch Japanese experts in efficient water resource management to address the non-revenue water issue of Saint Lucia.
  3. Furthermore, Minister Iwaya conveyed that Japan plans to invite Saint Lucian trainees to Japan for training, aimed at improving the country’s water purification and water supply technologies. In response, Minister Baptiste expressed his appreciation for Japan’s cooperation and his expectation for further cooperation.
  4. The two ministers confirmed the further strengthening of Japan-CARICOM relations and Japan-Saint Lucia bilateral relations. The two ministers also concurred to the necessity of the importance of considering values and principles such as freedom, democracy and rule of law, building up various dialogues and reinforcing relations, to lead the world worried about fragmentation to cooperation.
(Reference)Basic data of Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia covers an area of approximately 620 square kilometers (about the same size as Awaji Island), and has a population of approximately 180,000 people (World Bank, 2022) and a gross national income (GNI) per capita of approximately 11,000 U.S. dollars (World Bank, 2022).


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