2020.31.01 Presentation at the EDEN Seminar III at Shizenkan University.

Presentation at the EDEN Seminar III at Shizenkan University.

January 31, 2020: It was an honor for H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat to join in giving a presentation at the EDEN Seminar III at Shizenkan University in Tokyo. Also in attendance were Mr. Nasrullah Rozbeh, Second Secretary, and Mr. Abdul Hameed Hashimi, Third Secretary & Consul, as well as all the staff for the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Tokyo.



EDEN (Emerging and Developing Economies Network) is a Japan based, university-driven initiative launched in 2019. Their goal is to work with partners in Japan and worldwide to identify and share solutions for current global issues. EDEN endeavors to rally diverse perspectives to work together to find solutions. The seminar was devoted to Afghanistan/AFLP initiative for greening Afghanistan through various ecological projects including the development of botanical gardens. With the idea of greening Afghanistan in mind, and in honored memory of Dr. Tetsu Nakamura who dedicated his life with the mission of greening Afghanistan, the seminar began with a Moment of Silence to pay tribute the the legacy and memory of the late Hon. Dr. Nakamura.


During the seminar H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat was honored to give the first presentation for EDEN, entitled “Afghanistan’s Environment Today & Tomorrow – an overview.” H.E. Dr. Mohabbat presented facts of contemporary Afghanistan and its trajectory among the topics of demographics, topography, mountainous regions, rivers, basins, infrastructural grading projects, water management, effects of climate change, and participation in the Paris Agreement.


Other presenters included Ms. Nassrine Azimi, Senior Advisor for UNITAR, Co-founder & Chair of EDEN Seminars speaking on the “Green Legacy Hiroshima Initiative” and “Botanical Gardens in Afghanistan – greening the next millennium”; and Mr. Hiroshi Naito, of Naito Architect & Associates speaking on “What we should think when we think about botanical gardens” from an architectural perspective.


Close to 100 people attended the event and participated in the Panel Discussion following the presentations to further talk about the topics being presented. Also at the event was a display of Afghan cultural items, dried Afghan fruits and nuts, award-winning Afghan saffron lemonade, and lapis lazuli items provided by the Embassy and local Afghan-owned Afghan goods businesses. All present remarked how enlightening and enjoyable the seminar was.

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