【Summary】
Kumejima, Okinawa — Institute of Ocean Energy at Saga University held the 1st International Academic Summit for the GX Model in Island Regions on Kumejima Island, Okinawa Prefecture, from March 26 to 27, 2026. Prior to the summit, President Koichi Node hosted a luncheon meeting in honor of His Excellency Steven Victor, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment of the Republic of Palau. Discussions were held in the context of Palau’s Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) implementation project, which has been advancing since 2024 with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, JICA, and Saga University.

In his opening remarks, President Node welcomed Minister Victor to Kumejima Island and expressed appreciation for Palauan officials having already inspected the Kumejima Model, which combines OTEC-based energy production with the multi-purpose use of deep seawater. Prior to departing to prepare for the afternoon summit sessions, President Node expressed his hope that these efforts would form the basis for deeper cooperation between Palau and Saga University, entrusting hosting responsibilities to Director Yasuyuki Ikegami.

The luncheon proceeded in a cordial atmosphere over locally sourced dishes from Kumejima Island. Minister Victor noted the similarities between Palau and Kumejima, including island scale, high energy costs, and logistical constraints. With Palau relying on imports for approximately 80 percent of its food supply and facing challenges from rising fuel prices and climate change, he highly evaluated the potential of OTEC-based systems that integrate energy generation with sustainable food production using post-generation deep seawater, describing them as a viable solution for small island developing states.

During the afternoon summit, Minister Victor delivered a keynote address emphasizing that technological implementation must be accompanied by comprehensive policies and strong environmental, social, and governance frameworks to ensure benefits are returned to local communities. Following the summit, he visited related facilities on the island before departing Kumejima later the same day.

Although his visit lasted only one day, both sides shared a clear vision for social transformation centered on OTEC through on-site inspections and in-depth discussions.

Contact:
International planning Office　　Saga University
Ms. YADA Hiromi
Tel: +81-952-28-8166
Email: kokusai@mail.admin.saga-u.ac.jp