JapanGov Weekly

[Japan International Cooperation Agency] [Wednesday, Dec 10, 2014]

Personal Protective Equipment provided on the decision of the Japanese government arrived in Ghana Dec. 8 on an aircraft of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and was handed over to the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response.

The Government of Japan decided to provide approximately 700,000 sets of PPE on Nov. 28. Out of them, 20,000 sets dispatched by an aircraft of the SDF acting as a Japan Disaster Relief Team have arrived at Accra Kotoka International Airport, and a handover ceremony to the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) was held there.

The provided PPE will be distributed to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone through UNMEER.

Photo provided by the Japan Self-Defense Forces

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs] [Tuesday, Dec 9, 2014]

1. On December 9, the Government of Japan, with a view to preventing further spread of the Ebola virus disease in West African countries, decided to newly extend emergency grant aid of approximately 820 million yen (8.5 million US dollars) to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Through this emergency grant aid, a total of 700,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) will be sent and distributed to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Mali, and the technical support will be provided for infection prevention and control activities of medical staff in the affected countries.

2. In addition, as part of Japan’s contribution of human resources, Dr. Shiro Konuma, an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a medical license, will be seconded to the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) until the end of February 2015. He will be working as Senior Adviser on Ebola to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General.

3. Furthermore, Japan also decided to newly dispatch one medical expert to Sierra Leone via the World Health Organization (WHO), for a period of approximately one month from December 14.

4. The Government of Japan will continue to provide seamless support in order to stem the epidemic.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

[Reference] Japan’s assistance in the wake of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa
(http://www.mofa.go.jp/af/af1/page23e_000338.html)

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs] [Wednesday, Dec 10, 2014]

1. On Wednesday, December 10, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency relief goods worth approximately 22 million yen (blankets, sleeping pads, plastic sheets, etc.) to the Republic of the Philippines, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), based on the request from the Government of the Philippines.

2. Typhoon Hagupit (Philippine name: Ruby) landed the Philippines on December 6 and brought about massive damages including casualties. Over 1.7 million people have evacuated so far due to the typhoon.

3. Based on the request from the Government of the Philippines, and in light of friendly relations between Japan and the Philippines, the Government of Japan has made the decision to extend emergency assistance for humanitarian aid for the affected people.

[Japan Patent Office] [Monday, Dec 8, 2014]

The JPO recently conducted another of its JPO/IPR Training Courses, this time conducting a training course called the Examination Practices for Industrial Property (Intermediate/Advanced Program). The course was conducted at and by the JPO from Monday, November 10th to Friday, November 21st, in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) through the WIPO Funds-in-Trust/Japan, a trust fund set up through voluntary contributions made by the government of Japan. This recent training course was designed for examiners who work in the fields of patents, designs, and trademarks in developing countries.

In the course, the 25 trainees, who were invited from countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, were divided into three groups, namely “patents,” “designs,” and “trademarks,” based on their respective areas of expertise. The trainees in each group conducted case studies on substantive examinations and received on-the-job (OTJ) training from senior examiners at the JPO.
The trainees, by attending the training course that lasted for two weeks, enhanced their specialized expertise and are now more able to conduct more prompt and precise examinations. In addition, they deepened their mutual friendships. In the course, they also developed good relationships with persons in Japan involved in intellectual property. The JPO looks forward to the trainee’s playing even greater and active roles in the field of IP after they return to their countries.

Trainees of the JPO/IPR Training Course for FY2014 Trainees of the JPO/IPR Training Course for FY2014 Trainees of the JPO/IPR Training Course for FY2014 Trainees of the JPO/IPR Training Course for FY2014

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs] [Wednesday, Dec 10, 2014]

1. On December 10, the Government of Japan and the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China exchanged notes concerning the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, signed on November 9, 2010 (hereinafter referred to as “the Agreement”) at Hong Kong.

2. By the exchange of the notes, the both Governments confirm the understanding that information concerning the following taxes shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions of Article 25 of the Agreement:

(a) the taxes covered by Article 2 of the Agreement; and

(b) the following taxes of Japan:
(i) the inheritance tax;
(ii) the gift tax;
(iii) the consumption tax; and
(iv) any identical or substantially similar taxes that are imposed after the date of signature of the notes (December 10, 2014) in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes referred to in (i), (ii) and (iii)

Up until now, the two Governments have not been obliged to exchange information concerning the taxes other than those referred to in (a) under the provisions of paragraph 7 of the Protocol which forms an integral part of the Agreement. After the entry into force of the agreement between the two Governments which is constituted by the exchange of the notes, they will be obliged to exchange information concerning the taxes referred to in (b) as well as (a).

3. Each of the two Governments will send to the other a notification confirming that its internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the agreement have been completed. This agreement will enter into force on the date of receipt of the later notification.

[Related Link]
”Exchanged Notes concerning the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income”
(http://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000062707.pdf)