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EROPA Bulletin
Vol. 34 Nos. 3-4 (July-December 2013)
EROPA holds 2013 GA and
conference
The 24th EROPA General Assembly and Conference on
“Enhancing the Quality of Government: Government,
Governability and Governance” was held in Tachikawa
City, Tokyo, Japan from 14-18 October 2013. The
Government of Japan, through the Local Autonomy
College and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and
Communications, graciously hosted the event.
About 300 participants from different countries in the
Asia-Pacific region convened in the said conference
to discuss main issues and prospects on the 3Gs:
government, governability and governance, as well as
. Professor Koichiro Agata, President of the Japanese
Society for Public Administration (JSPA), addressed
the participants. He talked about the legacy of JSPA
in fostering knowledge and discussions on public
administration both in and outside Japan.
EROPA Secretary-General Orlando S. Mercado (center), flanked by
Mr. Morio Sakamoto, newly-elected President of the EROPA General
Assembly, and Dr. Pan Suk Kim, ARPA Editor-in-Chief, during the 24th
EROPA General Assembly. (Photo: LAC)
Leading public administration experts and top-ranking EROPA Executive Council
officials shared their insights and expertise in different meets in Japan
plenary sessions, such as the Asian Leadership Forum
and Stories to Share: Views from the Frontlines.
Members of the EROPA Executive Council convened
during the 59th Executive Council Meeting held in
A total of 65 papers, including those in four Special Forest Inn Showakan, Akishima City, Tokyo, Japan.
Sessions, were presented during simultaneous workshop The Council discussed issues on the programs and
sessions held from 16-17 October. These papers activities of EROPA. Dr. Akira Nakamura, Professor
dealt with Government (Institutions), Governability Emeritus at Meiji University and one of the leading
(Management) and Governance (Policy Issues). lights of EROPA, presided over the meeting on
Professor Akira Nakamura, General Rapporteur of the behalf of the current Council Chairman, Dr. Sombat
2013 Conference, synthesized the workshop results by Thamrongthanyawong of the National Institute of
emphasizing another set of important G’s. These are: Development Administration, Thailand, who was
onset of the Golden Age in Asia, in terms of economic absent in the said meeting.
growth and development; “golden opportunities” for
enhancing democracy in Asia-Pacific region; and Included in the agenda of the said meeting were:
“golden junctures” towards administrative reform.
EROPA activities, programs and administrative
operations, current status of the Asian Review of
On 19 October, participants capped off the conference Public Administration (ARPA), Reports of the EROPA
week with a post-conference excursion around Tokyo. Local Government Center and EROPA Development
Management Center, future plans and programs of the
Organization, and election of its new set of officers.
(Continued on the next page)