The following professors from the four JISPA partnership universities attended the round-table talk.

• GRIPS (National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies): Prof. Roberto Leon Gonzalez, Macroeconomic Policy Program (MEP)
• HIT (Hitotsubashi University): Prof. Akira Ariyoshii, Asian Public Policy Program (APPP)
• IUJ (International University of Japan): Prof. Koji Kotani, Macroeconomic Policy Program (MPP)
• UTokyo (the University of Tokyo): Prof. Toshiro Nishizawa, Master of Public Policy, International Program (MPP/IP)

1. What aspects do you consider characterize the JISPA?

Prof. Ariyoshi (HIT): Let me kick off. The first most important factor is the involvement of the IMF, and its contacts and relationships with macroeconomic policy institutions in the region. This enables the universities to recruit good and highly motivated candidates from institutions e focusing on macroeconomic policy. Another important aspect is Japan. Japan provides a unique learning environment compared with other advanced countries such as the U.S., U.K, Europe, and Australia. Japan being in Asia creates close and strong relationships with the other Asian countries in the region. The combination of Japan and the IMF characterizes the JISPA.

Prof. Nishizawa (UTokyo): The concept of the JISPA is clearly defined and consistent. I also feel that there is a strong team sprit among the partnership universities as well as among the scholars and alumni. All of us are committed to better macroeconomic policy formulation and implementation.

Prof. Kotani (IUJ): The key feature of the JISPA is that the program is well-focused on macroeconomic policy issues. Therefore, JISPA scholars, who already have experience in policy making in their countries, always actively participate and take a leading role in discussions in classes, which provides a positive impact on the other students. With their experience, knowledge, and skills gained through their studies at the IUJ, the JISPA scholars receive good grades and write thesis of high-quality. This is another factor that distinguishes the JISPA scholars.

Prof. Leon (GRIPS): While the main role of GRIPS is to foster future policy leaders in various fields; our program for the JISPA focuses on macroeconomic policymaking. We offer macro- and micro-economics, econometrics, and other economics subjects, which are required courses. Another feature is that the recruitment process for the JISPA is very efficient. With the collaboration of the IMF, all the partnership universities can accept scholars who are already involved in policymaking. In this sense, the scholars also benefit from receiving training. In addition, seminars and events organized by IMF-OAP widen the network among the JISPA scholars. Of course, GRIPS emphasizes networking as well, but the JISPA provides a network with scholars from other universities.

2. As Prof. Leon has just mentioned, the administration of the JISPA is a collaborative effort among the partnership universities. Could you please elaborate on the efforts and merits of this collaboration for the JISPA and its scholars?

Prof. Ariyoshi (HIT): By having the partnership universities, the JISPA can create an alumni network beyond that which the individual university has. This alumni network is unique by having alumni engaged in macroeconomic policymaking in the region. Especially, the Orientation Program (OP), a summer preparatory courses, provides an opportunity for scholars to establish bonds with other JISPA scholars who will study at other partnership universities and build an extended network. This fosters a group spirit of the JISPA scholars. Subsequent follow-ups through OAP for the JISPA alumni are important to maintain a value-added network beyond the individual university’s network.

In addition, the selection, including interviews, is collaboratively conducted by all the partnership universities. We consider interviews as a very important component of the selection process in judging candidates’ motivation, which cannot be understood only by reviewing their application documents. Without collaboration with other universities, we would not be able to cover all the candidates from all countries in the region. These arrangements are extremely beneficial to recruit good candidates with strong motivation.

Prof. Nishizawa (UTokyo): As Prof. Ariyoshi pointed out, the extensive alumni network is a big advantage. I, in particular, appreciate the JISPA alumni network site. This enables all the alumni to search for others even 10 years and 20 years after their graduation. Another aspect is that we can learn from each other among the partnership universities. Our school, the Graduate School of Public Policy, has a 10 years history, and our English program was established three years ago. Since ours is a relatively new program, opportunities to share other universities’ experiences and programs are beneficial for us.

Prof. Kotani (IUJ): IUJ is located in Niigata, outside the Tokyo area; thus, events organized for the JISPA scholars provide IUJ-JISPA scholars with network opportunities through interacting with the scholars from the other universities. In addition, the JISPA scholars have already been involved in and have experience in macroeconomic policymaking areas in their countries. However, through interaction with scholars from other countries, they can share and learn about other countries’ experiences and broaden their knowledge and understanding to practice policy. It is an important strength.

Prof. Leon (GRIPS): As all the professors have pointed out, networking opportunities are very important. I witness that the JISPA scholars know each other very well, regardless of the universities of their enrollment, at JISPA events such as the welcome and farewell receptions and various seminars. These foster a life-long network. In addition, the scholars also learn practical policy issues through seminars organized by IMF-OAP. Moreover, the JISPA is run by the partnership universities. Through such arrangements, we seriously consider our program content by obtaining the best ideas and good standard practice. As mentioned earlier, we could have not been able to cover applicants from all the countries without the collaboration with other universities during the selection process. It is a unique and interesting experience for us to consider candidates who are applying for other universities, and vice versa.

Prof. Ariyoshi (HIT): Let me also add the positive impact from the social life stand point of the scholars. Having friends from other university is beneficial. For example, our HIT scholars visit their IUJ friends during the winter to enjoy skiing. You know, Urasa area is very famous for its heavy snow and skiing slopes. Conversely, IUJ scholars visit HIT and other friends living in the Tokyo area to explore the cultural experience and life in Tokyo. Such kinds of interactions at a personal level are also an advantage of the JISPA

3. How do the partnership universities ensure the quality control of the academic program?

Prof. Kotani (IUJ): In case of the IUJ, as part of our effort in ensuring program quality, we place emphasis on the recruitment process of new faculty members. The IUJ offers scholars a unique environment where the professors closely interact with the scholars for a whole day as we live on the same campus. All faculty members are requested to share and achieve this vision by being kind enough, flexible enough, and patient enough with teaching scholars from various country backgrounds. The faculty members are also requested to produce best quality research. In addition, teaching evaluation by the students is also conducted to provide feedback to the faculty members on their teaching style, and the faculty members give their best effort. Regarding curriculum development, we enriched courses in finance in response to OAP’s request a few years ago. Under the MPP where the JSIPA scholars enroll at the IUJ, finance and Japanese macroeconomics are offered in addition to core economics courses.

Prof. Leon (GRIPS): We, GRIPS, are very serious in ensuring the quality of the academic program by conducting evaluation internally and externally. Under the internal evaluation process, scholars’ evaluation is conducted by both quantitative and qualitative methods. The professors are also invited to observe other professors’ lectures for mutual learning and feedback. We are also requested to submit an annual report to the management as well as to the IMF on how to enhance the program. We also hold biannual sessions with the JISPA scholars to exchange views and to hear their opinions.

External evaluations are periodically conducted for curriculum assessment. This year, an external international committee convened to assess curriculum from the viewpoint of the best practice at an international level.

Prof. Ariyoshi (HIT): Our program, APPP’s goal is to train economists who will be able to function as policymakers in macroeconomics to contribute to the sound and sustainable growth of their home countries. To achieve this aim, our teaching staff members, who are all well-experienced policymakers with strong theoretical background in economics, know which areas to focus on to bring up our scholars to this level. It requires a great deal of efforts from our students. Since they have different academic backgrounds and careers, we provide additional teaching courses in mathematics and teaching assistance to address any weakness that the scholars might have in core courses.

In addition, as an advantage of being a small program, we provide intensive academic support for the scholars by designating a professor to each student during the entire two years of the program. One professor supervises up to four scholars per intake, and a seminar is held once a week and additional meetings are also held. Our faculty members closely watch and consult to make sure that our scholars graduate with the standards of skills required for their success in careers as policymakers.

Prof. Nishizawa (UTokyo): We analyze the students’ feedback as the most effective tool to control the program quality. For example, every semester, students vote for the best teacher award. Not only in terms of academic quality, but also in terms of value for practitioners, we invite policymakers and senior officials to give lectures as a professional school to train policymakers. Regarding curriculum development, our curriculum offers theory, application, and case studies, which are all interacted and integrated with the emphasis on fostering future policy makers.

The remaining interviews will be included in the next issue, which will be released in June 2014. It will focus on features and strengths of each university, universities’ perspective on the JISPA’s achievements, messages to potential candidates, as well as describing the living environment that the universities provide for the scholars.

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You have been involved in the Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA) for 20 years. Please describe the history and development of the JISPA briefly and your involvement and experience of the program.

I joined the Graduate School of Policy Science (GSPS), the forerunner of GRIPS, in 1988. I have been involved with the Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA) from its formal inception at Saitama University in 1993. I have been a witness to the dramatic transformation of the program over its 20+ years. In large part, this transformation reflects changes in the Asian and global economies. The name and structure of the JISPA program at GSPS/GRIPS has changed over time in response to such developments.

Transition Economy Program (1993-2010) and the Expansion of the JISPA (2001)

The genesis of JISPA was the collapse of the Soviet Union in the final days of 1991. The old system of state planning and control that characterized the economies of the Soviet member countries was no longer functional. There was a commonly perceived need to move toward a more market-based system. The Transition Economy Program (TEP) was created in response to the new developments.

The genesis of JISPA was the collapse of the Soviet Union in the final days of 1991. The old system of state planning and control that characterized the economies of the Soviet member countries was no longer functional. There was a commonly perceived need to move toward a more market-based system. The Transition Economy Program (TEP) was created in response to the new developments.

Teaching in those early days was a great challenge. Early TEP students did not understand even the most basic economic concepts. How do you explain what a market is to students who have never experienced such a thing? I think it fair to say that our early students learned more market economics from visits to Rogers and Daikuma—retail discount stores—than from their classroom lectures. What could conventionally-trained academic professors like me teach students about creating the institutions necessary to build a market-based economic system? My formal education in the United States presumed the existence of such institutions. That, I believe, is one of the reasons why, if you look through old brochures of the TEP, you will find that most of the professors at GSPS were not PhD economists. The GSPS leadership at the time believed that the situation faced by transitioning economies called for practitioners with real-world experience building market-based institutions. Japan’s development process, they felt, offered a valuable guide for other Asian countries.

In response to the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, a major structural change in the JISPA was made in support of the countries most affected by the crisis. In 2001 the program was expanded to four partnership universities in order to provide potential students a choice of schools while maintaining the integrity of the JISPA. Concurrently, the number of target countries and scholars was increased. To facilitate coordination with the partnership universities, the administrative functions of the JISPA were transferred from the IMF Institute (currently known as the IMF Institute for Capacity Development) in Washington, D.C. to the IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP) in Tokyo. I appreciated such arrangements and enjoyed collaborating with the partnership universities and the IMF-OAP.

Institutional Capacity Building in Asia and the Pacific (2009-) and the Asian Economic Policy Program (2010-2011)

Over the years of the JISPA, Asian countries made steady progress in economic performance and in macroeconomic-policy management. Increasingly, the TEP seemed to be an anachronism; it was, in a sense, a victim of its own success. There were, however, good reasons for the program’s continuing survival. The Asian Financial Crisis (1997) and the Global Financial Crisis (2007-8) convinced many economists and policymakers that there was a need for greater macroeconomic policy cooperation at the regional and global levels. It was also clear that the development and enhancement of market-enhancing institutions was incomplete. Consequently, the focus of JISPA shifted in 2009 to an emphasis on institutional capacity building in Asia and the Pacific. The name of the JISPA-sponsored program at GRIPS was changed in 2010 to Asian Economic Policy Program (AEPP) to better reflect the changes in program orientation that had been ongoing for some time. The name is also suggestive of a founding GRIPS principle that effective policymaking requires considerable knowledge of local political and social conditions.

Macroeconomic Policy Program (2011-Present)

A major restructuring of the JISPA program at GRIPS occurred in 2011in response to the tendering of JISPA partnership universities. The tendering process conducted by IMF-OAP highlighted JISPA’s shift towards a more macroeconomics based focus. A Macroeconomic Policy Program (MPP) was created with both one and two year components. The four supporting pillars of the 2011 program were: macroeconomics, microeconomics, financial economics, and econometrics. This new structure, modified somewhat in subsequent years, mirrors the changing composition of the GRIPS faculty. The economic faculty at GRIPS has increased dramatically in both number and quality. The core elements of the new program are now very similar to what one would find at world-class economic institutions throughout the developed world. The new structure may reflect the view that economic principles are universal and that Asian economies have advanced to a stage where conventional economic education is now both feasible and desirable. Perhaps, but GRIPS continues to offer JISPA students a wide variety of elective courses that provide the opportunity to acquire practical knowledge and skills from experienced practitioners and development specialists.

My role in JISPA has also evolved over time. Until recently, I was the main instructor of macroeconomics and monetary economics. Since 2011, I have served as a senior advisor for the JISPA program at GRIPS. In recent years, I have also been in charge of international relations and promotion activities for GRIPS. In that capacity, I have travelled extensively in Asia. I have met with many of the JISPA alumni and have consulted with the senior government officials responsible for dispatching junior staff to JISPA partner universities. I am pleased to report that most of our alumni are serving with distinction in important policy-making positions. All of the alumni I have met are extremely grateful for the tremendous opportunities provided by the Japanese government and the IMF-OAP through JISPA. Their bosses share the alumni’s enthusiasm for JISPA. I will always be thankful for the humble role I was allowed to play in this important program.

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Scholar’s comment on the JISPA Seminar: It was a thought provoking presentation on December 3, 2013 by Ms. Martine Guerguil, Deputy Director of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department stressing the importance of fiscal rules for policy making. It was a great privilege for the IMF scholars to be participants in such a timely discussion on fiscal rules. Fiscal rules impose long-lasting constraint on fiscal policy through numerical limits on budgetary aggregates with a view to reining in over-spending pressures to ensure fiscal resilience and debt sustainability. There are four categories of fiscal rules: debt, budget balance, expenditure and revenue rules. According to the Fiscal Affairs Department of the IMF in 2013, most countries maintaining fiscal rules adopt a budget balance rule and/or a debt rule. Many of the countries use a combination of either ‘expenditure and debt rule’ or ‘expenditure and budget balance rule’ or ‘debt and budget balance rule’. In fact, as Ms. Guerguil has emphasized in her presentation, fiscal rules may lead to weakening of the quality of fiscal policy encouraging more attention to fiscal aggregates rather than to the composition of taxes and spending.

In her presentation on the IMF’s ‘Fiscal Monitor: Taxing Times’ on December 4, 2013 Ms. Guerguil has also focused on growth friendly taxation, stressing that although the least distortive form of taxation is property tax, most advanced economies rely relatively less on this source of taxation and are heavily reliant on more distortive taxes such as personal income, value added and corporate income taxes. As long as property markets are resilient, property taxation can be a source of substantial tax revenue in most of the advanced and developing economies. Ms. Guerguil also focuses on other cross-country taxation issues. For example, very few countries have given effort to lessening the distortions broadening tax base in the case of corporate income and value added taxation, while this is well done in the case of personal income taxation. Widening the value added tax bases, accompanied with the safeguard policies to shield the poor, is the top most priority in terms of economic efficiency. Promoting tax compliance is a difficult task in the emerging and lower income countries where there is huge room to generate substantial amounts of tax revenues. In both the advanced and emerging economies the compliance gap and policy gap to raise more tax revenue are significant; prompt action to close these two gaps is essential. The fiscal adjustment in advanced economies rests heavily on the contraction of spending as the scope of generating more tax revenue is limited. There is still some scope in the advanced economies to raise tax revenue through taxing the upper tailed population of the income distribution more along with emphasizing property taxation. International tax structure has yet to be worked out in most emerging and low income countries where taxation reform is crucially needed as the source of tax revenue is mostly centered on corporate taxation which is highly vulnerable to any financial crisis. However, political instability can muddle even the best-designed taxation system along with the best-fitted fiscal ruling; as a result, the political stability must be ensured to achieve the best outcome of any fiscal adjustment.

(Mr. Muhammad Imam Hussain, 2012-14, the University of Tokyo, Bangladesh Bank)

High-level Conference: The first AMRO-IMF Joint Seminar was held on January 23, 2014, in Tokyo. A JISPA alumna Ms. Ngoun Sokha, the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Cambodia, delivered her presentation in the first session, focusing on promoting the usage of local currencies in the ASEAN+3 region.

DMD Mr. Shinohara and Ms. Sokha, the AMRO-IMF Joint Seminar, Tokyo, January, 2014

OAP-Hosted Seminar: OAP organized various seminars and the JISPA scholars were invited to those seminars. On December 4, 2013, a Fiscal Monitor Seminar on "Taxing Time" was jointly held by FAD and OAP, with Ms. Guerguil as the key speaker. Mr. Tamim Bayoumi, Deputy Director of the Strategy, Policy, and Review Department (SPR), IMF, delivered a presentation on the "Global Policy Agenda" on December 19, 2014. On January 22, as part of OAP’s country seminar series, a seminar on "Myanmar’s Economic Transition: Opportunities and Challenges" was given by Mr. Matt Davies, Deputy Division Chief and Myanmar Mission Chief, Asia and the Pacific Department (APD), IMF.

In addition to the above-mentioned seminars, the JISPA scholars were invited to the high-level seminar on "Unconventional Monetary Policies: Looking Ahead", which was jointly organized by Hitotsubashi University and OAP on January 23-24, 2014. The seminar brought together prominent academics and economists from the public and private sectors. The scholars had a great opportunity to learn about country experiences and policy debates to deepen their understanding of this timely topic.

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1. Please describe your career path after graduating from the JISPA. How has the JISPA contributed to your career development?

I have taken many motivational action steps and programs to gain my current position, where I am assigned to the ASEAN and ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers’ Process, after graduating from the JISPA. Participating in the JISPA has had a positive impact on my work in cooperating and coordinating with other institutions in the region. Against this background, I have become more confident to pursuing my career development.

2. Have you worked on any issues relevant to Japan or regional cooperation? If so, please explain the duties and/or experiences that you had.

Prior to my secondment to the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), I was a Principal Research Officer in the Department of Policy Research, International Relations and Training in the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM). I was responsible for ASEAN and ASEAN +3 Financial Process and was involved in various strategic initiatives of the department. Those initiatives included making assessments and policy-related recommendations to Heads of the CBM, and facilitating closer relations and cooperation with regional and international organizations such as ASEAN, SEACEN and the IMF.

3. Could you please briefly outline your duties, mentioning any challenging issues that you are facing (if there are any)?

During my secondment in AMRO in Singapore, I learned about developing countries’ economies and the monitoring process of AMRO of regional and global financial market developments. There was also a great deal of interest expressed at various levels in development of monetary policy, external policy, financial soundness and supervision, and data adequacy to strengthen the monitoring and surveillance capacity of AMRO. The experience that I had at AMRO should enhance my confidence in working on these issues.

In order to enhance the financial development reform, I contributed to the Financial Integration Project organized by the Korean Ministry of Strategy and Finance and Korea Development Institute in 2012. Moreover, I was invited to participate in the workshop “Managing Regional and Global Governance (MRGG) in Asia: Opportunities and Challenges for ASEAN Economic Community”. It was a beneficial experience not only for me but also for my country development through my contribution.

Upon my return to the CBM from AMRO, Myanmar was just taking up the ASEAN Chairmanship for 2014. Therefore, my current responsibilities are to help achieve successful events hosting ASEAN and ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors meeting, meetings at Deputies’ level and senior officials’ level, as well as other related meetings. Furthermore, my department’s responsibilities should be expanded when the financial reform agenda proceeds during the CBM’s transition as an independent body.

These are my main opportunities and challenges in 2014. Having said that, after all is done, I hope that my activities and endeavors will be successful.

4. Please describe the economic outlook of Myanmar and any policy challenges.

The economic outlook of Myanmar and its policy challenges, are laid out in the "New Economic Reform Agenda". As part of its political and economic reforms, the government is undertaking economic development and making all-out effort to attract foreign investment. Myanmar has ample natural resources to secure funds gained by exports and the trade sector as an engine of future growth. However, Myanmar also relies on agriculture, whereas the private sector is still weak, which could result in lower levels of growth.

Therefore, there have been challenges, such as revising investment laws in order to promote a positive business climate and enhance job creation in the private sector, removing restrictions on international trade that will be made by the creation of Special Economic Zones, promoting interactions with international investors. The government has also announced its intention to adopt more transparent and competitive policies for stakeholders. In addition, the government has proceeded with infrastructure development to promote financially sound and socially beneficial investments in transportation and communication. Strengthening the banking system, including the operation of foreign banks, is another step forward. It is a challenge for Myanmar to create a sound and efficient banking system and to move from a cash-based to a banked economy. Myanmar is committed to opening up its financial services sector in ASEAN Region to become Qualified ASEAN Banks (QABs). These reforms need to be supported by policy measures in our country.

Moreover, Myanmar will be able to contribute more effectively to maintaining peace and stability in the region, as well as responding to the common problems that cause concerns to the international community.

5. You have been in close contact with the IUJ, which alumna you are, to organize training programs for officials of the Central Bank of Myanmar. Please explain how such programs came about. Please also briefly describe how you developed such programs in collaboration with the university.

I am confident that IUJ programs will enhance the ability of trainees to formulate and implement macroeconomic policy. The IUJ and the Central Bank of Myanmar closely coordinated on platform training programs in 2012 and 2013. Beyond that, we continue to research programs to advance effective monetary policy measures and macroeconomic monitoring process. The IUJ is now establishing its successful collaboration with other international universities and global parties to go forward.

6. Please briefly describe your student days in Japan, such as your major and research interest, as well as your experience of life in Japan.

During my studies at the IUJ over 8 years ago, I engaged closely with my colleagues, who were from emerging and developing countries, to share knowledge in economics, monetary, financial, and fiscal and other related fields. We studied hard, and also organized social activities, which were memorable. I have good memories with all the friends, professors, and staff during my studies and had a wonderful life in Japan.

Current ongoing events at the IUJ include providing capacity building activities in cooperation and coordination with other universities in research fields, exchanging views on the application of research to real issues. Since my graduation from the IUJ, I have been looking forward to an opportunity of further study to enhance my knowledge and skills in order to meet more capacity needs of our economy as well as to strengthen human resources and institutional infrastructure.

7. Any message to the current JISPA scholars studying in Japan as well as potential candidates?

I believe that JISPA scholars can contribute their knowledge and skills in implementing necessary reforms in their countries, which will lead to greater implementation capacity and good policies in these countries.

8. Do you have any message that you wish to mention to Japan?

I always stand ready to put forward my best efforts. I appreciate the JISPA and the Japanese Government for their support for me and for our country’s reform agenda. I will always miss my life in Japan.

9. Please provide us with any comments that you wish to convey.

I will always be indebted to all my professors, all of my friends and JISPA scholars.

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1. Please outline your work responsibilities before enrolling on your studies in Japan.

My background might be slightly different from other JISPA scholars who were mainly from central banks, as I came from the ministry of finance, the tax agency to be precise. I started to work for the Indonesian tax agency (DGT) in 2001 conducting various tasks, from tax administration to tax audit. It was not until 2008 when I joined our Headquarters that I started being involved in tax policy making. During that time, I was more involved in Value Added Tax such as VAT incentives for Free Trade Zones and VAT Refund for foreign tourists. This experience enriched my knowledge of how big decisions in tax policy were taken. Furthermore, I also belonged to a unit that was designed to improve the VAT system in Indonesia.

2. What led you to study in Japan, and what motivated you to apply for the JISPA?

Pursuing higher education to increase the value of oneself was always considered an important opportunity for me. Studying in Japan has been my personal goal since I was in senior high. Why Japan? I always considered Japan as the country for innovation and perfection, and I wanted to see how Japan became the first developed country in Asia and the second biggest economy. This always raised my curiosity; how did they achieve that? Within less than four decades, Japan has changed itself into one of the “big players” in the world.

3. What are you studying? (What have you been studying?)

During my course in Hitotsubashi University, I have studied macro- and micro-economics, public sector economics, international trade and finance. This fundamental knowledge of economics hopefully will give me a broader understanding on how one policy might affect the entire economy of a country. Furthermore, Hitotsubashi also provides various seminars relating to the current world economic conditions, given by experts from different backgrounds, which I have found very useful in updating myself, and trying to see how economic theory works in a real life. Lastly, knowledge of econometrics and data processing provides more insight on how to conduct and analyze research.

4. Please tell us of one experience in Japan that made you feel happy, sad, surprised, or moved.

Actually this experience is slightly embarrassing for me because it has happened not only once but three times; nevertheless I would like to share it here. So here it goes, I lost my valuable belongings on the train three times. One time I lost my wifi-router on Tozai-line, but after a week I fortunately got it back. The second instance was when I forgot my camera on the train while I was travelling to Nara and Kyoto, but again I got it back, this time within 4 hours at Osaka station. Lastly, I lost my wifi-router on Chuo-line (again!!), and got it back on the same day. So what I am trying to say is: Japan is a VERY SAFE COUNTRY. I was stunned by the first experience, amazed by the second one, and totally dazzled by the third one.

5. Please describe your experience and/or impression of the JISPA (such as the Orientation Program, seminars, and meetings with IMF/OAP economists).

For me, the Orientation Program in IUJ was one of the most unforgettable moments during my stay in Japan. This program allows us to recall some of our knowledge relating to economics. In addition, this program also provides us with a perfect way of “acclimatization” towards a completely new environment, life, culture, and tradition. Sharing almost three months in a secluded and tranquil area in a suburb of Urasa, where the IUJ is located, with people from different countries, including Japan, taught us to respect other cultures and behavior. During our time, we had accomplished much together, from serious studying, lively discussions, challenging sports, to social gatherings (I miss the weekends in IUJ so much!!!). Furthermore, what is more important is that after the Orientation Program, we still keep in touch with each other, and hopefully this gives us a bond, which I believe, will be useful in future life once we’ve become representatives from each of our countries.

6. How would you like to utilize the knowledge and skills obtained through your studies under the JISPA in your future work?

The valuable knowledge, skills, and experience I am attaining during my study here have surely deepened my understanding on how policy and its implications being channeled, resulting in various effects in daily real economic activities and by these I hope I can contribute more to my institution in designing better tax regulation. Moreover, the experience of cooperating with other JISPA scholars from all over Asia has certainly enriched me with skills in understanding various cultural backgrounds which can be very useful for my future career.

7. What is your future career vision and dream?

Achieving a higher level of management in my institution would be one of my goals after finishing my studies here in Japan. On the other hand, having an opportunity to work for international organizations will be another dream that I wish to come true.

8. What is your favorite proverb or motto?

"DO YOUR BEST PREPARE FOR THE WORST"

9. Do you have any message to Japan?

Salute for the "Japanese Spirit"!!

10. Please provide us with any comments that you wish to convey.

My deepest gratitude for Japan and JISPA, which have given me a tremendous opportunity to experience life and study here!! Domo arigatou gozaimashita!!

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