Chers compatriotes,

La propagation du Coronavirus (COVID-19) a atteint un seuil qui fait du Japon un pays officiellement touché. Bien que cette propagation n’en soit actuellement qu’à ses débuts à Tokyo, les trois prochaines semaines (du 22 février au 15 mars 2020) ont été déclarées par la Municipalité de Tokyo comme une période cruciale pour empêcher l’évolution du COVID-19 dans tout le pays et au-delà.

L’Ambassade du Bénin près le Japon, soucieuse du bien-être de ses ressortissants dans tous les pays sous sa juridiction (Australie, Brunei Darussalam, Iles Fidji, Indonésie, Malaisie, Maldives, Myanmar, Népal, Nouvelle Zélande, Papouasie Nouvelle Guinée, Philippines, Singapour, Sri Lanka, Timor Oriental) souhaiterait mettre à jour sa base de données afin de pouvoir réagir de façon efficace et coordonnée en cas de besoin. Nous vous prions donc, de bien vouloir remplir ce formulaire et de le partager à tout Béninois dont vous auriez connaissance de la présence au Japon ou dans votre pays de résidence. https://forms.gle/K8GQaWeEUQqaieR76

En espérant que tout un chacun soit à l’abri, nous vous demandons de toujours respecter les règles élémentaires d’hygiènes qui s’imposent (port de masque, utilisation de solution stérilisante, lavage régulier des mains, éviter autant que possible les rassemblements de personnes, etc.). 

Que Dieu veille sur chacun de nous et nous donne de traverser cette période sensible en toute sérénité.  

Makarimi Abissola ADECHOUBOU

Ambassadeur

Quelques liens utiles :

– Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Website

– Tokyo Metropolitan Government Website 

– Information related to the Novel Coronavirus on Tokyo Metropolitan Government website

TASKS

Under the supervision of the Butler/Chef of the Residence, the cook will be required to:

• Deliver first-class culinary experience to both internal and external guests of the Residence; 
• Conceptualise and cook meals in accordance with the Residence procedures, rules and regulations;
• Create and implement new menus;
• Cook all meals within the Residence as requested:  breakfasts, lunches, dinners, buffets, cocktails and others;
• Ensure cleanliness of the kitchen utensils and all equipment; 
• Welcome visitors and provide superior service in accordance with the Residence’s procedures and diplomatic rules; 
• Assist as required on-site and off-site events the Residence may take part in.

PROFILE AND QUALIFICATIONS 

• Hold a Culinary Degree or have solid experience in cooking and hospitality;
• Have impeccable hygiene and appearance;
• Be courteous and have good communication skills;
• Be fluent in English and Japanese. Fluency in French would be an asset;
• No criminal record and hold a valid Residence Permit;
• Be able to work under pressure, go the extra mile and flexible enough to work sometimes beyond the regular hours (Evening and Weekends depending on receptions at the Residence); and
• Must be available immediately.

CONDITIONS AND TYPE OF CONTRACT

• Working place: Residence of the Ambassador;
• Trial period: Three (03) months;
• Duration of the contract: full time until the end of the Ambassador’s mission;
• Have a thirty (30) days leave per year;
• Other negotiable conditions.

APPLICATION  FILE

• Cover letter with salary expectation;
• Resume in English;
• Two (02) ID photos ;
• Copy of ID documents and Residence Permit if any;
• All other relevant documents.

The complete application file must be submitted by the Applicant to the Administrative Secretariat of the Embassy of Benin in Tokyo, located at SI Bldg 8F, 11-14, Kasuga 1-Chome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112 – 0003, Japan, Tel: +81-3- 6268-9360, by Friday, February 7, 2020.

The successful three-day mission included the Ambassador, H.E. Makarimi Adechoubou, joined by the Counselor Ms. Yabavi Allagbe as well as Mr. Mahutin Kakpodjo,official Translator, the co-Founder of Queserser Keiichi Sano and the Founder of InterMedia Japan, Pia von Waldau. The program objectives were based on the Embassy’s mission to deepen the relations with Japan in three main sectors: Agriculture, Health and the Digital Economy.

The first day of this unique visit started with the introduction of Mr. Kiyoshi Mori, Director General of the Kansai Bureau of Economy Trade and Industry at Queserser’s headquarters in Osaka followed by a meeting with the Governor of Osaka, Mr. Ichiro Matsui at his offices. As part of Benin’s plan to become a tech hub and digital leader in the Western African region, InterMedia Japan organized a visit to the Osaka innovation center; a center that prides itself for developing new ideas on the road to a more sustainable world. Benin has been a strong advocate for using technologies and innovations as a way to create sustainability and growth. The day ended in Nara after paying a visit to the governor of Nara, Mr.Shogo Arai. Known as being a true humanist, Mr. Arai was impressed by the beauty and kindness of the people of Benin.

Beninis well known for having tremendous potential in Agriculture, but due to a lack of technology and knowledge, the country is not able to fully support the need of its citizens. On the 10th of October, Ambassador Adechoubou and its delegation had the opportunity to witness top edge technology in the agriculture field at the University of Agriculture of Nara prefecture.

With this visit, the delegation was able to see how Japanese technology would be an essential component to develop the enormous agricultural potential of Benin. One of the aims of the government is to produce sufficient food for their people and supply their neighbour countries, one of them being Nigeria, which alone represents a market of nearly 200 million people.

Opportunities in the field of agriculture were also at the center of discussion. The successful businessman, Mr. Yoshida Hiroshi of Yamato Noen,who is also the Head of the Economic Association of the Kansai Region is mostly known for its production of high-quality seeds and for supplying them to the whole Asian Region.Mr. Yoshida is now planning to visit Benin in December 2018.

Furthermore, providing quality health services to its people is a top priority for the Government of Benin. We were welcomed at the Nara Medical University by Mr. Hiroshi Hosoi, who is the President and Chairman of the Board at the University. The 70 years old University has always put great emphasis on innovation and now is dedicated to developing the best clinical English program in the country. The Medical Base town initiative started by President Hosoi was a strong interest point to the delegation.

Our day ended on a spiritual note with the Shingon-shu, Buzan ha chief abbot, Mr. Tashiro, at his temple, Hasedera. Benin being the first birthplace of the Voodoo religion, Mr. Tashiro and Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Makarimi Adechoubou discussed the importance of spiritual beings and how to contribute to a more peaceful and equal world.

This mission allowed the Embassy of Benin to Japan to better understand the potential of the Kansai Region and the importance of small and medium companies outside of Tokyo. Likewise,each one of the political or business leaders introduced by InterMedia Japan to the Beninese delegation were left with a positive impression and a growing eagerness to learn and collaborate with the current Beninese government.

To further develop the new relations between Benin and the actors of the Kansai Region, several business seminars and cultural events will be held throughout the year 2019.

During their meeting on June 20th, the two Ministers discussed various topics of common interest. The two Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral and international cooperation by universal values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and good governance. During his stay, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Benin, not only met with Japanese high-level Authorities but also engaged with actors from organizations like JICA, JETRO, JBIC, and some private companies. We hope that this not only symbolizes the beginning of a renewed partnership between both nations but that more Japanese companies will come, explore and take advantage of Benin’s strategic location to access the West African and the African Market at large.  

Benin’s strategic location in West Africa, its human capital, political stability, and heritage are significant assets to spur heightened economic growth and a better future for its entire people. It is with this objective in mind that the Head of State, H. E. Mr. Patrice TALON, launched in December 2016, the Government Action Program (PAG)2016 – 2021, “Revealing Benin” as a development and investment Program with unprecedented scale in the country’s history. The plan encompasses bold and innovative actions to sanitate every field of life in the country, including a fierce fight against corruption and deep institutional reforms.

As part of the implementation of the PAG, Benin counts on Japan, one of its most significant development partners. Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between both countries in 1961, Japan and Benin have shared similar values in various areas such as democratization, respect for human rights, cultural heritage as well as regular exchange of contacts between the Officials of both countries.

The ECOWAS region to which Benin belongs is one of the most integrated areas on the African continent. Since its creation on May 28^th,1975 in Lagos, Nigeria, the aim of ECOWAS has always been to promote the cooperation and development among member states in all economic activities area—by abolishing the trade restrictions, obstacles to the free movement of people, goods and services within the community and harmonizing the regional sectoral policies. ECOWAS’ mission, therefore, is to create a significant potential West African common market and a monetary union. 

This mission is governed by Article 12 of the Lagos Treaty, which stipulates that “it shall progressively be established a customs union among the Member States which will be extended to the commodities exchange.” Benin’s membership in this sub-regional organization has allowed the country to progressively reduce and ultimately eliminate import duties by a program established by the Committee of Trade, Customs, Immigration, payments, and Monetary Affairs. Also, Benin increased the trade flows and intra-community trade, by recovering his shortfalls. In the same vein, customs barriers have been abolished to promote intra-community trade through a free trade zone and a common customs tariff. 

In 2000, ECOWAS issued a Community passport, adopted by the Member States in their territory in 2005 and a traveler’s check which helped to mitigate the non-convertibility of currencies and to facilitate business operations and payments. These arrangements have allowed The Republic of Benin to recover its existing shortfall and improve his trade balance. Recently in October 2018, the Joint Border Post (JBP)of Sèmè-Kraké between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Benin was built according to international standards to meet the expectations of the ECOWAS people. This JBP is located on the Abidjan-Lagos corridor, which represents about 70% of the sub-regions total transit trade and will serve a significant population in the two beneficiary countries.

Also, one of the ECOWAS innovations that empowered the Republic of Benin to increase its customs revenue is serving landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso, Niger as well as the introduction of the Brown ECOWAS Car Insurance card, to facilitate international motorists’ free movement in the Community which is coordinated in the Republic of Benin by the National Office of Benin.

The implementation of the PAG is benefiting from the support of various private sector partners and different actions taken to better public governance and strengthens accountability—ultimately making the business environment very attractive for national and foreign investors.

The two Ministers expressed their wish for further private investment in Benat and welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by the Government of Benin and a Japanese company on November 2, 2018. The project, a study for the construction of factories in the textile sector was announced on the occasion of the first edition of the Japan-Africa Public-Private Economic Forum held in Johannesburg(South Africa) last May.

Minister AGBENONCI expressed his gratitude to Japan for its contribution to Africa’s development and recalled that TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development) is a recognized and respected partnership forum for its openness, inclusivity, and transparency. Benin has attended at a high level all the summits since the creation of the TICAD process in 1993 and would like to reinforce our cooperation through:

• Active participation in all the meetings and other events organized within the framework of TICAD;
• The concrete proposals for the coming TICAD Summit Action’s Plan as part of the implementation of the African Union Agenda 2063;
• The offer to host the TICAD VIII meeting in 2022, which will be held in Africa.