Addis Ababa, Dec. 4(ENA)--The 30th anniversary of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) was marked here on Tuesday.

The day was commemorated at a reception, which took place on the premises of the Residence of the Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Hiroyoshi Ihara.

JOCV volunteers, recipient organizations and invited guests attended the occasion.

Ambassador Ihara said that JICA experts and volunteers, through their shared skills and knowledge, have been playing a key role in the development of human resources in Ethiopia.

He said the JOCV program has enabled to further deepen the long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries at the grassroots level.

The guest of honor, minister of state for finance and economic development, Dr. Mulu Ketsela said on the occasion that Ethiopia has benefited from the invaluable services rendered by JOCV volunteers in a variety of technical disciplines since its establishment in 1972.

She said the year 1972 could also be marked as a prologue of the Ethio-Japan bilateral relations, which made Ethiopia to receive a significant volume of Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Resident Representative, Yoshinori Ebata said on his part that since the launch of JOCV program in Ethiopia, nearly 360 volunteers served various areas of specialization in areas of engineering, education, health, tourism and sport.

JOCV program, being a development cooperation arm of JICA, is intended for grassroots level cooperation and thereby help address the basic needs of people in developing nations, he said.

Presently, there are 26 JOCV volunteers working in various areas of specialization.

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