Three Tunisian nationals won Japan's Foreign Minister's Prize for 2022 - a prize awarded to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields in order to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries and areas.

One of the winers is Head of the Cardiology Department at Fattouma Bourguiba university hospital in Monastir Dr. Habib Gamra. He contributed to disseminating the use of Japanese dr. Kanji Inoue's InoueBalloon technique for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in Tunisia and in Africa.

He also organized workshops, in partnership with Japanese companies, on Japanese medical techniques and equipment in Tunisia and the MENA region.

He greatly contributed to the promotion of Japan-Tunisia-Africa triangular cooperation in the medical sector, the Japanese embassy in Tunis said.

The second and third winers are Nacef Belkhiria and Hichem Ben Khamsa.

Belkhiria, Executive Vice-President of BSB Toyota and Secretary General of the Tunisian-Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry since 2010, has contributed to the promotion of economic relations by facilitating the establishment of Japanese companies in Tunisia and supporting companies already based in Tunisia.

He has thus given considerable input to stimulating the interest of the private sector in both countries and creating momentum for hosting the TICAD8.

Hichem Ben Khamsa is the Executive Director of Tunis Cinema and initiator of Tunis Envirofest Tunisia, a cultural, educational and film event which offers a platform of debate on environmental issues.

Ben Khamsa sought to boost relations by promoting the Japanese culture in Tunisia. He made a significant contribution to the organization of cultural pre-events for TICAD8, the embassy further said.