Scholar’s comment on the Seminar: On September 30, I got a chance to attend the JISPA seminar on “Abenomics: Will the Three Arrows Fly?” presented by Mr. Giovanni Ganelli. It was a great privilege for us, JISPA scholars, to attend this seminar and learn about the views from the expert. Abenomics has gained a lot of attention from economists around the world as Japan introduced the three arrows of fiscal policy, monetary policy and growth strategy reform to deal with its decades of low economic growth and deflation. In this seminar, Mr. Ganelli presented a clear situation of the Japanese economy before and after the implementation of Abenomics. He raised four important issues; consumption, investment, inflation and exports and gave explicit answers for each question. Finally, he suggested that Japan cannot maintain the expansionary fiscal and monetary policy forever; therefore, in the medium term, fiscal consolidation and corporate governance reforms are needed for sustainable growth.

From this seminar, I learnt the current situation of the Japanese economy and how practitioners analyze the relationships of each economic factor, especially in policy analysis. I think this is a very important issue in order not to misinterpret the impact and effectiveness of policy. I really appreciated the IMF-OAP for organizing this interesting and knowledgeable seminar. I hope that I can attend more of seminars organized by IMF/OAP so that I can learn as much as I can from the experts before I go back and apply this knowledge to my country.
(Ms. Anchalee Sirikanerat, 2013-2015, Hitotsubashi University, Bank of Thailand)

Completion of the Orientation Program: The 36 new scholars successfully completed the Orientation Program at the International University of Japan and received the certificate for the completion on September 20. After spending two and half months (one and a half for those who started from the mathematics component) together on the same campus, the scholars moved to their own universities to start their Master programs.

Alumni Gatherings: On September 21, Mr. Brekk (OAP Director) visited Kuala Lumpur and had a lunch meeting with JISPA alumni from Malaysia, which was also attended by the IMF Resident Representative in Singapore, Mr. Geoffrey Heenan. Mr. Ganelli and Ms. Katafuchi visited Lao PDR and Vietnam for a JISPA promotion trip during November 3-4. They had meetings with senior officers at various economic agencies, and held gatherings with JISPA alumni in both countries, which were also attended by the Resident Representative, Mr. Sanjay Kalra, and other staff from the Vientiane and Hanoi offices.

OAP Hosted Seminars: On October 31, Ms. Antoinette Sayeh, Mr. Roger Nord, and Ms. Céline Allard, respectively Director, Deputy Director, and Division Chief of the African Department of the IMF, visited OAP and delivered a seminar on the Regional Economic Outlook for Africa. On October 23, Mr. Roberto Guimaraes-Filho, Deputy Chief of the Regional Economic Studies Division of the IMF Asia and the Pacific Department (APD), delivered a seminar on the Regional Economic Outlook in Asia. The JISPA scholars were invited to both seminars, which provided them with a better understanding of the IMF views on the challenges faced by African and Asian countries in the current global economic environment.

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1. Please describe your career path after graduating from the JISPA. How has the JISPA contributed to your career development?

After graduating from the JISPA master program, I came back to the National Bank of Kazakhstan to work for the Balance of Payments Department, which I had been working for prior to attending the JISPA program. The master program really helped me cover this sphere comprehensively, given that my academic research was mainly dedicated to the related issues. After graduating from the JISPA program in Japan I was awarded by internship to the Bank Negara Malaysia.

Meanwhile, it was the peak period of the Asian financial crisis, and I gained invaluable expertise and experience which has been very useful so far. Then, I came back to Kazakhstan and joined the National Bank to become a specialist with comprehensive academic coverage and strong research skills.

Having assessed my performance, the management of the National Bank promoted me to a senior position. Later, I was offered the lead in a unit in the Currency Regulation and Control Department. Shortly after, I was appointed Deputy Director of this department. For the last eleven years I have been working as Deputy Chairman of the Kazakhstan Deposit Insurance Fund.

2. Have you worked on any issues relevant to Japan or regional cooperation? If so, please explain the duties and/or experiences that you had.

In the ongoing operations and strategic planning, I often refer to the experience of other countries, including Japan. Japan has gained leadership in many areas, and I feel we can always learn how various issues were resolved and test the applicability of this experience in our conditions. My vision is that there is no need to reinvent the wheel, as one can just take it and adjust to his own needs. However, there is always the opportunity to avoid repeating the mistakes of others!

In this regard, we really appreciate the efforts of the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Japan which annually holds DICJ’s Open House to share their experience with other countries’ representatives and initiates the discussion.

3. Please briefly describe your student days in Japan, such as your major and research interest, as well as your experience of life in Japan.

I recall my student days in Japan with great fondness and admiration. Back in 1996 – 1997, when Kazakhstan was an economy in transition and was going through very complicated processes to overcome the socio-economic implications related to the collapse of the Soviet Union, from the very first day there in Japan I was amazed with the systematic character of whatever was being done, careful coordination of work and study, discipline and thorough planning in all spheres of life. I recall the very high level of organization of both the academic program and life. I remember with great appreciation the program director Mr. Shimomura-sensei and the Student Office coordinator Mrs. Suzuki-san. I was amazed with the depth of expertise of the academic staff. To learn from Professor Kenichi Ohno alone was worth a lot! Actually it was Professor Ohno who encouraged my interest in the subject and taught me a systematic approach to research and analysis while being my thesis project coordinator.

Despite the very intensive study schedule we could find time for travelling across Japan to get to know its people, culture, history, and nature. I remember walking up Fuji-san, and I can recall the delight that we felt with the breathtaking view from the top... In a traditional rock garden one feels that it is difficult not to become a philosopher and move away from the ordinary life to find the meaning of life… In Japan, there are many places which inspire you, like Nikko or Kyoto, and there are places which call for reflection, like Hiroshima.

Thanks to my years of study I now have a lot of friends across the world, who have very different lifestyles, mentality, culture, but who have the student years in common.

Why else am I very grateful for having been in Japan? It is because there in Japan I met my spouse, and we have already been happily together for many years.

4. Any message to the current JISPA scholars studying in Japan as well as potential candidates?

Of course, under the JISPA program students have an excellent opportunity to gain fundamental academic coverage. Apart from this, JISPA has always been a global hub for knowledge and expertise sharing, and the students must utilize all the opportunities of this. Also, I want to recall the enormous importance of networking. The ties which are established in universities and master programs often turn out to be the strongest in professional life.

And of course, students should always find time to explore the majestic Japanese land and culture!

5. Do you have any message that you wish to mention to Japan?

I appreciate the efforts of the JISPA and the Japanese government for being dedicated to the training and development of the executive professionals pool in developing countries. This program is a tremendous opportunity for regulatory and public policy professionals to gain expertise to contribute to the development of our countries. I also appreciate the opportunity to get to know the people and culture of Japan. I will always miss living in Japan.

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1. Please outline your work responsibilities before enrolling on your studies in Japan.

• collecting and combining Myanmar macroeconomic indicators from the concerned departments and organizations for ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office(AMRO) which is the independent regional surveillance unit.
• participating in the calculation and estimation of money supply.
• studying the current regional and world economic condition.

2. What led you to study in Japan, and what motivated you to apply for the JISPA?

I want to extend my knowledge about economic, banking, bond market and stock market issues. Moreover, I want to study advanced economics and participate in the macroeconomic policy making process and the economic development process of my country.

3. What are you studying? (What have you been studying?)

I have already studied macroeconomics, microeconomics, international trade, international finance, advanced econometric ,the volatility of the bond market and stock market returns, exchange rate movements and the Japanese banking and financial system.

I am studying corporate finance, computable general equilibrium and cross section and panel data analysis in this term.

4. Please tell us of one experience in Japan that made you feel happy, sad, surprised, or moved.

The experience which make me happy is meeting with international students who come from different cultural backgrounds and I like Japanese people who are polite and disciplined and I envy the development of Japan.

5. Please describe your experience and/or impression of the JISPA (such as the Orientation Program, seminars, and meetings with IMF/OAP economists).

JISPA creates excellent opportunities for the government officials from emerging and developing countries to study advanced economics and to be able to participate in our country’s economic development process and macroeconomic policy making process efficiently and effectively in the future.

6. How would you like to utilize the knowledge and skills obtained through your studies under the JISPA in your future work?

I plan to utilize the knowledge and skills obtained through my studies under JISPA effectively and efficiently and I hope to participate in my country economic and financial sector development process and macroeconomic policy analysis. I plan to share my knowledge with my colleagues in my organization and other government officials to facilitate our country’s development.

7. What is your future career vision and dream?

I want to be a macroeconomic policy maker and also participate in the regional and international economic integration process.

8. What is your favorite proverb or motto?

Don't stop where you are and step forward with full confidence.
(or)
Study and learn for yourself, your parents and your country.

9. Do you have any message to Japan?

A land with polite disciplined smart people.

Hello Japan, I wish you may always give a warm hand to the emerging and developing countries which need you.

10. Please provide us with any comments that you wish to convey.

I wish JISPA always to create opportunities for junior government officials to study advanced economics and expand their knowledge to participate in their country's development. JISPA is our hope and our future.

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