JAIF Celebrates 20 Years, Supporting Japan-ASEAN Cooperation with $900 million in over 620 projects
An exhibition commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) opened on September 11 at Plaza Senayan in Central Jakarta. Over the past 20 years, the Japanese government has contributed more than USD 900 million and supported over 620 projects aimed at promoting ASEAN regional integration, human resource development, and other initiatives.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN, YONETANI Koji; Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, Nararya S. Suprapto; and Deputy Permanent Representative of Singapore to ASEAN, Wang Shuo, among others.
Established in 2006, JAIF has supported strengthening ASEAN’s institutional and organizational capacities, regional cooperation, connectivity, healthcare, sustainable development, and people-to-people exchanges. Its support also covers initiatives under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
Ambassador Yonetani stated that Japan-ASEAN relations “have been nurtured far beyond intergovernmental exchanges.” He emphasised that the relationship is fundamentally rooted in people-to-people connections and highlighted the importance of passing these exchanges involving youth, researchers, and the private sector on to the next generation.
Deputy Secretary-General Nararya noted that JAIF’s contributions cannot be measured solely by the amount of funding provided. He said that JAIF-supported projects have strengthened ASEAN’s capacities and institutions, promoted regional cooperation, reduced development gaps, and created opportunities for citizens. As examples, he cited the IAI personnel dispatch program, which helps improve the capabilities of government officials from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste, as well as JENESYS, which promotes youth exchanges between Japan and ASEAN.
