JCCP activities for fiscal 2020 had been well planned so that they would be implemented smoothly and steadily, backed by the small but larger government budget than in the previous year in recognition of the validity and effectiveness of the activities in countries around the world, despite the severe financial situation of recent years. However, the activities that were planned for the first half of the fiscal year were unable to be implemented, because the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which was detected in Wuhan, China, toward the end of November 2019, spread explosively throughout the world by the end of the 2019 fiscal year and further continued to gather momentum thereafter rather than slow down. Nevertheless, in the second half of the fiscal year, online activities were implemented via the Internet, and a certain measure of results was achieved, although the targets of the initial activity plan could not be met.

Continuing on from last fiscal year, the basic policy for project implementation focused on contributing to ensuring stable supplies of oil and gas as in usual years, and in supporting the expansion of product exports and

Human resource development programs for fiscal 2020 were held online from September, as the COVID-19 situation made it difficult to implement them in the conventional in-person format that accompanies overseas travel. A total of 18 regular courses were implemented directly by JCCP. They included four courses on technology and management strategy, project management, marketing, and distribution; two courses on human resources and financial accounting; three courses on environmental, quality and safety management; three courses on process and power generation technologies; five courses on maintenance; and one course on instrumentation and control.

Efforts were made to adapt to the change in course format, by examining how to design courses that are held with the cooperation of outside experts and companies,

Customized courses were also implemented in response to individual requests from oil-producing countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In fiscal 2020, four such courses (including a course for female managers) were held for Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Vietnam, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Indonesia. A total of 352 participants attended the courses held online—300 in courses conducted directly by JCCP and 52 in corporate courses conducted in cooperation with member companies. The breakdown of the number of participants in JCCP regular courses is as shown under “2. Completed Activities” below.

For the record, the cumulative total number of participants JCCP has received since its founding in 1981 has reached 25,905 as of the end of fiscal 2020.

The researcher exchange (invitation/dispatch) program is

JCCP helps oil/gas-producing countries solve technical issues in their oil downstream sector through the transfer of Japan’s technologies and expertise and the joint development of technologies in the form of technical cooperation projects. In fiscal 2020, these projects were divided into the three stages described as follows and implemented while verifying their relevance to their respective stages. In the project-finding stage (basic survey), one project was implemented in one country. In the project feasibility confirmation stage (project formation studies), 10 projects were conducted in five countries. In the joint projects with oil-producing countries stage (joint projects), 19 projects were conducted in eight countries.

It also bears special mention that three project implementation agreements were signed in fiscal 2020. The signing ceremonies for two of the projects were held online due to COVID-19. The joint projects that were thus signed online and newly launched are the “Joint Project for

International cooperation programs aim to promote and strengthen information sharing, technical transfers and personal relationships through international conferences, networking meetings and other such activities.

[International Symposium]

JCCP has held the JCCP International Symposium annually since its founding, with the participation of energy experts and leaders of government agencies and national oil companies in oil/gas-producing countries who are invited to Japan. Through presentations, exchanges of views and information sharing, the invited leaders and their counterparts in Japanese oil companies cast light on issues that need to be addressed cooperatively toward Japan’s goal of securing stable supplies of oil and natural gas. The symposium also provides a forum for personal exchanges and for uncovering future cooperation schemes.

In fiscal 2020, the 39th JCCP International Symposium was held online. It was the first time ever that the symposium was held online, but it garnered a larger number of participants (about 600) than in usual years. Particularly as the starting time of the symposium was decided in consideration of local times overseas, an increased number of overseas participants were able to join, and a new symposium style was thus established. The theme of this year’s symposium, “Outlook and Challenges for the Oil Industry Standing at the Crossroads: Contributions and Strategies for a Sustainable Society,” was discussed by 16 panelists from 12 countries. Their presentations clarified common issues both inside and outside their countries and provided an understanding of policies and strategies in each country.

In Leaders Panel 1, the main theme was discussed from the perspectives of policies and management. In Leaders Panel 2, the subtheme of “HR Development and Management in the New Normal—Nurturing Leaders and Technology Transfer—” was discussed in detail. Presentations were given on new management and leadership development programs that utilize digital technologies, and issues and solutions were shared. In Leaders Panel 3, panelists discussed the subtheme of “Technological Innovation for Carbon Neutral—Fuel Technologies, Petrochemicals, Hydrogen, CCUS—.” Their presentations and exchanges of views were made from wide-ranging perspectives, as the situation greatly varies in each country.

JCCP has overseas offices in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia (Al-Khobar Office) and Abu Dhabi, UAE (Middle East Office). Each office is in charge of a group of Middle East countries. The Al-Khobar office is in charge of affairs in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Bahrain, and the Middle East office is in charge of affairs in UAE, Qatar, Oman and Iran.

The principal roles of these overseas offices are to provide local support and to collect local information so JCCP projects can be implemented in a smooth and safe manner in the countries under their charge. They also support Japanese companies that do business in the oil downstream sector in Middle East oil-producing countries by leveraging the network that JCCP has established with national oil companies and other such organizations in Middle East oil-producing countries since its founding through the implementation of human resource development programs,