On January 13, the Discovery Program for Global Learners (GDP) at Okayama University hosted a special lecture in the course Trade Policy and Development, having Mr. Toshiaki Wakabayashi, Chief Director, and Ms. Nonno Kawamoto, Chief of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Okayama as guest lecturers.

In this course, students explore how trade policies affect not only the national economy but also people’s daily lives, including employment and wages. In the special lecture, Mr. Wakabayashi provided an overview of JETRO Okayama and its key initiatives. Ms. Kawamoto also shared her work experience at JETRO Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she was posted for one year from 2024.

Although many students had previously encountered the name JETRO in other courses, Mr. Wakabayashi’s lecture helped them gain a systematic understanding of the organization’s history, vision, and mission. They also learned about JETRO’s role in supporting foreign direct investment in Japan and assisting Japanese companies in expanding overseas in collaboration with relevant government agencies. In particular, students expressed strong interest in JETRO’s efforts to support exports by small and medium-sized enterprises and to attract highly skilled foreign professionals.

Among the approximately 20 students enrolled in the course, those from ASEAN countries and those with study-abroad experience in the region deepened their understanding of marketing strategies for Japanese products by relating Ms. Kawamoto’s presentation to the economic and business contexts of their home or host countries.

The GDP is an international undergraduate program in which international, returnee, and domestic students study together in English. The program allows students to design their own cross-disciplinary curriculum aligned with their interests and future goals, and aims to nurture globally minded leaders.