### 6. Latin America and the Caribbean

With a population of 570 million, Latin America is an enormous market that boasts a regional gross production of $4.8 trillion. The region is also increasing its presence in the international community through the establishment of democracy and continued stable growth, in addition to playing a role as a provider of steel, copper, silver, rare metals, crude oil, natural gas, biofuels, and other minerals and energy resources, as well as food resources. Although the average income level in the region is relatively high among ODA recipient countries, the region is also characterized by a significant income disparity between the rich and the poor, and a large number of people who suffer from poverty. In addition, while the region has an abundance of natural environments such as the Amazon Rainforest, it is also vulnerable to natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes, so efforts to address the environment/climate change and disaster prevention are important as well.

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Japan has traditionally had a friendly relationship with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Through ODA, Japan provides support to those countries in achieving sustainable growth, reduction of poverty, correction of disparities, and consolidation of peace, South-South cooperation, etc. Assistance for sustainable growth in Latin America consists of aid for the improvement of infrastructure, the development of small and medium-sized companies, etc. In addition, Japan provides assistance for social development, such as health and medical care, education, and regional development, in order to reduce poverty and improve the income gap, which are historical challenges in the region. Further, Japan has provided an emergency and reconstruction aid to countries affected by natural disasters, such as the earthquake devastated in Haiti in January 2010 and the earthquake occurred in Chile in February 2010.

Japan cooperates with the Central American Integration System (SICA), $ ^{26} $ the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and other regional communities to formulate wide-ranging projects in order to implement more effective and efficient aid related to development issues that are shared throughout Latin America. The Second Japan-CARICOM Ministerial-level Meeting was held in Tokyo in September 2010. At this meeting, the “Partnership for Peace, Development and Prosperity between Japan and the Member States of CARICOM” was adopted. In addition, Japan announced that it would cooperate with CARICOM in the areas of the integration

Indigenous Ecuadorians till a field at an altitude of 3,500 m in the Andes Mountains

into the global economy, measures towards environment and climate change, over the next three years or so under the framework of the “Japan-CARICOM Partnership Programme.” (see “Terminolozy” on page 25)

Further, many years of Japan's economic cooperation have also allowed it to cooperate with Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, which are now entering the stage as influential actors to provide assistance to third countries such as Latin American and African countries under the schemes of Third Country Training Programme and Third Country Expert Dispatch. For example, Japan works together with Brazil to provide agricultural development projects to Mozambique in Africa. Japan also works with Mexico, Argentina, and the Dominican Republic to provide assistance in the reconstruction process after the earthquake in Haiti.

In addition to deforestation and deterioration of the Amazon Rainforest, other environmental problems are deteriorating in Latin America and the Caribbean, such as the growing hole in the ozone layer, declining glaciers in the Andes caused by climate change, and frequent natural disasters such as hurricanes. Japan provides assistance for natural environment conservation and disaster prevention in order to halt these problems and mitigate their impacts.

Under the private-public partnership, Japan cooperates in introducing the Japanese ISDB-T $ ^{27} $ standards for terrestrial digital TV. By November 2011, this system has been adopted by ten Latin American countries. Japan