Ambassador Kovač, participated via video link in the opening ceremony of JICA Chair at the University of Belgrade. The program of JICA Chair envisages a series of lectures on the topic of modernization of Japan, which will be held in 2022, on the occasion of marking the 140th anniversary of friendship between Serbia and Japan. 

On the Japanese side, the event was attended by Chargé d'Affaires a. i. of the Embassy of Japan in Belgrade Tetsuya Tsubota, Chief Representative of the JICA Office in Belgrade Jiro Takeichi and Executive Director of the JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development Akio Takahara, while on Serbian side there was Rector of the University of Belgrade Vladan Đokić, lecturers from the Department of Japanese Language and Literature and other representatives of the University of Belgrade. 

In her introductory speech, Ambassador Kovač welcomed the opening of JICA Chair in the year of the jubilee of friendly relations between Serbia and Japan. She emphasized the importance of JICA's two decades of support for the improvement of bilateral cooperation through development projects in various fields, which, among other things, have contributed to the prosperity of Serbian citizens. She also underlined the crucial role of the modernization of Japan, when relations with Serbia were established, thanks to which an environment was created for the progress of new industries and technologies. She noted that the principle from that time, which emphasized public education, as support for change and growth, is still present today, and expressed that we appreciate the continuous efforts of JICA to contribute to the development and improvement of educational systems in the world.