H.E. Motoyoshi Noro

Japan's Ambassador to Malawi

Japan has been increasing its diplomatic presence in Southern Africa following the successful Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) IV in May 2008. Until recently, Japan's Embassy in Zambia handled relations with Malawi and Botswana. Ambassador Hideto Mitamura opened the Lilongwe consulate in January 2008, overseeing its operation until Motoyoshi Noro arrived in June. Botswana too received a new ambassador, Ryoichi Matsuyama.

Noro joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in 1971. Like many of his colleagues, Noro studied at Keio University. He spent the early years of his Foreign Service career in India, where he became Vice-Consul at the Kolkata Embassy. A stint in the late 1990s as the United Nations Development Programme's advisor on Japanese affairs led to his involvement in the TICAD II meeting in 1998.

After that, he worked increasingly in Africa. Noro was appointed Chargé d'Affaires at Japan's Embassies in Ghana (2001-2002) and Ethiopia (2003-2004). Following that, he served as Director of MOFA's Humanitarian Assistance Division, which supervises Japan's activities through international organisations such as the UN.

Noro returned to Kolkata in 2007, this time with the full rank of Consul General, before being despatched to Lilongwe. He made a polite entrance, arriving with kind words for President Bingu wa Mutharika's stewardship. Japan is a reliable buyer of Malawian tobacco and coffee, while a contingent of Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers work on technical projects in the country.