On 29 th June 2023, First Secretary Trade, Mr. Gracious Soko was delegated by His
Excellency Ambassador Kwacha Chisiza to attend a first -phase UNITAR’s anniversary
celebration at the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan. The second phase of the
anniversary celebration will take place in Hiroshima where the institute have an office for
Japan, on 30 th June 2023.

The Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Antonio Gutteres, congratulated
UNITAR for the anniversary, noting that the institute, established in 1963, has made a
huge impact in capacity building, which was a centric element for the attainment of UN
SDG’s and others. He pledged UN’s commitment towards strengthening the institute and
others alike.

The Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Fumio Kishida congratulated UNITAR and reaffirmed
the UN of his government’s commitment to working closely with them to make the
existence of the institute’s Hiroshima office more meaningful.

Mr. Nobuyuki Hiratsuka, Digital Agency’s Deputy Director-General for International
Affairs Shared the significance of viewing the digital component not only as an integral tool
of communication, but also a source of work for the youth, whose unemployment rate
remains incredibly high. He urged the audience to take the digital aspect seriously if they
must register actual economic improvement.

Other speakers were; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Yoshimasa Hayashi, UNITAR
Executive Director, Mr. Nikhil Seth, the Deputy Director- General, International Affairs,
and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Iraq to Japan, HE
Abdul Kareem KAAB.

UNITAR is an institute established by the United Nations with a core purpose of
conducting research and training for the provision of solutions to enhance global decision-
making and support country-level action for shaping a better future.