Mr. Alfred Sears, Minister of Works and Utilities of the Bahamas, and his delegation visited the Institute of Ocean Energy Saga University (IOES) from October 11 to 14.

The delegation visited Institute of Ocean Energy Saga University (IOES) in Kumejima, Okinawa Prefecture, as well as Imari and Ureshino cities in Saga Prefecture, where they received an overview of the institute and toured its facilities.

The institute aims to contribute to solving global energy and environmental problems of the 21st century by conducting comprehensive and interdisciplinary research and education on ocean energy, establishing a research base, and contributing to the promotion of its utilization as an international leading core research center that strategically promotes research, education, and science and technology related to ocean energy.

After the tour, the participants exchanged opinions with Institute Director Ikegami about future human resource development through academic exchanges with academic exchange institutions in the Bahamas.

The delegation then visited the Honjo Campus in Saga City, where they paid a courtesy call to President Kodama and Vice President and Director for International Affairs Teramoto, who expressed his hope that the visit would lead to further academic exchange between the university and academic institutions in the Bahamas. President Kodama then presented them with Arita-yaki porcelain, which is mainly produced in the town of Arita in Saga Prefecture, as a memento of their visit, and which is made of white porcelain and painted in a variety of colors, such as underglaze blue and beautifully colored.

Director Ikegami (center left) and Assistant Professor Yasunaga (left) with the Bahamas Minister and his delegation

Minister Alferd Sears receives a briefing from Prof. Ikegami, Director of the Ocean Energy Laboratory (right)

Minister Alferd Sears (left) and President Kodama

Minister Alferd Sears during a courtesy visit

The Minister and his delegation with President Kodama (front row, center) and Director Teramoto (front row, right)