Professor Mitsunobu Kano, Vice Executive Director in charge of promoting Okayama University's efforts to help achieve SDGs, delivered a keynote lecture titled "Promotion of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)" at Tsuyama Kokusai Hotel in Tsuyama City on December 10.

This lecture was held to strengthen the cooperative relationships among Okayama University, the 10 municipalities in Northern Okayama known as the Sakushu area, and the TSUYAMA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, thereby contributing to the area's revitalization and human resource development. The event also helped Okayama University contribute to achieving the SDGs, which has been a university-wide commitment.

The lecture was attended by 60 people including local municipality and business officials. In his lecture, Professor Kano emphasized the importance of creating ideas and solutions to problems to help achieve the SDGs. He also said that the SDGs were goals for the development of sustainable communities.

At a meeting after the lecture, along with the mayors of the 10 municipalities in the Sakushu area and Mr. Kinya Matsuda, chairman of the TSUYAMA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called on other participants for area-wide overall and effective collaboration to promote the SDGs. A lively discussion was also held on how to take advantage of the SDGs to revitalize the area and develop excellent human resources.