Former ambassador Yoshiaki Miwa and businessman-educator Toyoaki “Tony” Miwa held a discussion with Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao during a courtesy visit on February 18, 2025. “Yoshi” was the Japan consul general in Davao who linked UP Mindanao chancellor Prof. Larry Digal in 2021 to the Kitakyushu Science and Research Park with the idea of replicating this academic-industry-government ecosystem in Davao and Cagayan de Oro, thereby creating “growth corridors.” This idea aligned with UP Mindanao’s plan for a Knowledge, Innovation, Science & Technology (KIST) Park on campus, the master plan of which is currently under development.
Yoshi was accompanied by his brother Tony Miwa, both representing the Mindanao Japan Science and Technology Platform (MJ-STeP), which entered into a memorandum of agreement with UP Mindanao in 2022 to provide a post-graduate scholarship to qualified UP Mindanao students in support of the KIST Park. UP Mindanao’s Asst. Prof. Cyrose Suzie S. Millado of the Dept. of Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies is the first MJ-STeP scholar and is currently taking studies in Japan.
The Miwa brothers plan to meet Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte and the Davao City Chamber of Commerce during their stay and plan to proceed to Cagayan de Oro.
The above photo shows (left-right) Yoshi Miwa and Tony Miwa at the close of their meeting with Chancellor Murao.
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