PRESS STATEMENT 

Ambassador Dr BS Ngubane of the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa to Japan is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Katsuhiro Nakagawa as South Africa’s Honorary Consul in Nagoya, to serve the Chubu economic region of Japan (retroactively with effect from 12 October 2005).  The Inaugural Ceremony of the Honorary Consul, Mr Nakagawa, Vice Chairperson of the Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan, who is a leading figure and well known businessman, will take place on 2 February 2006 in Nagoya.

 Mr Nakagawa has had a distinguished career in the political and economic circles in Japan.  In 1997, Mr Nakagawa was appointed as Vice Minister of International Affairs at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) now known as the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).  In June 2001, he was named to Toyota’s Board of Directors as a Managing Director.  He became a Senior Managing Director in 2002, an Executive Vice President in June 2003 and has been Vice Chairperson of the Toyota Motor Corporation, since 2004.

 The Toyota Motor Corporation is Japan’s largest automotive company and is one of the top two leading automotive industries in the world.  The appointment of a top Executive from the Toyota Motor Corporation, which has had a long presence in South Africa and has contributed to the creation of thousands of jobs including skills development for the peoples of South Africa, can only strengthen and enhance our economic relations in the Prefectures of Aichi, Gifu, Shizuoka and Mie, that Mr Nakagawa will cover.  These Prefectures have a number of business opportunities for South Africa such as the automotive industry, manufacturing, electronics, electrical equipment and precision machinery, ceramics, etc.   

 In congratulating Mr Nakagawa, Ambassador Dr Ngubane said that “Mr Nakagawa’s appointment will undoubtedly contribute significantly towards the strengthening of relations between our two countries in a region that has so many economic opportunities for South Africa”.

 Issued by:

Embassy of the Republic of South Africa, 414 Zenkyoren Bld, 2-7-9 Hirakawa-cho

Chiyoda-ku, 102-0093