Deepening collaboration between Barbados and Japan, specifically in the areas of disaster risk reduction, infrastructure resilience, and water management, was a key outcome of the inaugural Japan-Barbados Business Forum, held under the theme “Water Management and Resilience”.
The forum took place on Thursday, March 12, and Minister of Home Affairs and Information, Gregory Nicholls, emphasised the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing in mitigating water-related disasters, such as flooding, storm surges and droughts.
Barbados-Japan Relationship
Minister Nicholls noted that Barbados has enjoyed a “long and fruitful relationship” with Japan since establishing diplomatic relations in 1967, particularly through support for disaster management initiatives, and expressed gratitude for the assistance provided to date.
He highlighted that in the early 2000s, Barbados, along with several other Caribbean countries, benefited from the CDEMA-JIICA initiative, the Caribbean Disaster Management Project. The project focused on mitigating damage in participating states, particularly from flooding.
As a result, flood mitigation works were completed in Speightstown, while capacity building programmes were conducted for staff within the Ministry of Public Works and community disaster management volunteers.
“Japan has a reputation for being one of the most advanced nations in disaster risk management and water-related resilience and is at the forefront of innovation in this field. From the development of state-of-the-art flood management systems to their pioneering efforts in the preservation and efficient use of water, Japan has much to teach us, and much to offer.”Minister of Home Affairs and Information, Gregory Nicholls
More recently, the Government of Japan provided US$2.93 million to a project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme to rebuild fishing vessels and improve safety following the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl in 2024.
Additionally, just last month Japan committed US$2 million towards the construction of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency-World Food Programme Centre of Excellence, which will be located in the same area of the Caribbean Regional Logistics Hub.
Japan’s Ambassador to Barbados, Miyasaka Yusuke, highlighted that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Embassy of Japan in Barbados, while 2027 will mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and noted that “it is our intention to further strengthen cooperation”.
Collaborating in Natural Disasters and Resilience Building
Minister Nicholls indicated that more work must be done to help Barbados mitigate the impacts of hazardous climate events and welcomed any assistance that could support those efforts.
“Just as no man is an island, no country has all the relevant expertise needed for every challenge. There is a need to leverage all available expertise and resources where necessary to ensure the safety and security of all Barbadians. Both countries possess mature community disaster management systems that present added opportunity for collaboration.
“Japan has a reputation for being one of the most advanced nations in disaster risk management and water-related resilience and is at the forefront of innovation in this field. From the development of state-of-the-art flood management systems to their pioneering efforts in the preservation and efficient use of water, Japan has much to teach us, and much to offer,” he stated.
The Minister, who has responsibility for the Department of Emergency Management, noted that partnerships would place the country in a stronger position to mitigate risk and transform challenges into opportunities for growth, innovation and sustainability.
“This collaboration is a perfect synergy, as we combine the best practices and technologies of Japan with the unique experiences and perspectives of Barbados. Together, we can build stronger, more resilient communities in the face of the changing climate.
The Japan-Barbados Business Mission is an opportunity for the exchange of knowledge, development of new partnerships, and further building on the foundation of collaboration that already exists between the two nations.”
Ambassador Yusuke agreed that effective responses to natural and climate-related disasters require strong partnerships and sustained effort – something Japan remains committed to providing to Barbados and the wider Caribbean.
“As we continue our efforts to comprehensively support resilience throughout the region, a key priority has been to increase the engagement of the Japanese private sector and leverage their innovative technologies to strengthen resilience initiatives,” Ambassador Yusuke said.
“As we continue our efforts to comprehensively support resilience throughout the region, a key priority has been to increase the engagement of the Japanese private sector and leverage their innovative technologies to strengthen resilience initiatives.”Japan’s Ambassador to Barbados, Miyasaka Yusuke
However, he noted that partly due to geographical distance, opportunities for Japanese companies to engage in the region have been “relatively limited”. He expressed satisfaction that the inaugural forum was helping to address this challenge.
“We are, therefore, very pleased to have 15 Japanese companies participating in today’s forum. They will present their cutting-edge technologies and share their experience in fields such as disaster prevention infrastructure, digital technologies, and water management. It is our sincere hope that this forum will serve as a meaningful catalyst for forging new partnerships between Japan and Barbados,” Ambassador Yusuke stated.
Inaugural Japan-Barbados Business Forum
Ambassador Yusuke explained that as Japan continues its efforts to support resilience throughout the Caribbean, a key priority is increasing the engagement of the Japanese private sector and leveraging their innovative technologies to strengthen resilience initiatives.
To support this objective, the Embassy of Japan in Barbados collaborated with the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) to organise the forum. It was co-hosted by Invest Barbados and the Caribbean Disaster Management Agency.
The forum brought together 15 Japanese companies to explore opportunities for collaboration with government agencies, the private sector, international organisations and academic institutions in Barbados.
Director of International Cooperation and Engineering for Infrastructure Overseas Project Division of MLIT, Kenichiro Tachi, said each participating company possesses advanced technologies that could contribute to water management, recycling, disaster risk reduction and infrastructure development. Through the mission, he hopes that Japanese technologies will effectively match the needs of Barbados in these areas.
Mr. Tachi also expressed hope that the forum would be “fruitful and contribute also to strengthening the long-lasting friendship between Japan and Barbados”.
Chief Executive Officer of Invest Barbados, Kaye Greenidge, noted that as a vulnerable member state, Barbados is actively advancing renewable energy, resilience financing and sustainable development initiatives. She added that Japanese expertise in technology, infrastructure and innovation aligns closely with Barbados’ national priorities.
Companies making presentations at the forum included Fuji Clean, BarChip, WOTA, Fujitecom, Japan Techno, DOWA Line and OYO Corporations.