On August 6, H.E. CHIBA Akira, Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN, attended the Opening Ceremony of the the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) Executive Programme (ACE Programme*) Seventh Batch (conducted online), welcoming the 21 new participants. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Kung Phoak, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN (Social-Cultural Community), Ms. Adelina Kamal, Executive Director of the AHA Centre, Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, and Ambassadors of ASEAN dialogue partners.
 
In his Opening Remarks, Ambassador Chiba announced that the cumulative number of participants in the ACE programme had reached a three-digit number. He expressed his hope that the knowledge, experience and network gained through the ACE programme will enable the participants to lead the field of disaster management in the ASEAN region as future executive officers of national disaster management offices (NDMOs).
 
(*) ACE Programme is an over 4-month training for future leaders of national disaster management offices NDMO in ASEAN countries conducted by the AHA Centre. The Programme is funded by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).  The Programme commenced in 2014, and the Seventh Batch has just commenced.