Bilateral Relations » Japan's Economic Cooperation between Japan and Tuvalu » Past Assistance Projects to Tuvalu » Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP)» Speech

Speech by H.E. Yutaka Yoshizawa, the Ambassador of Japan At the Grant Contract Signing Ceremony for the Projects for rehabilitation of Health Centre for Nukufetau and Nukulaelae Islands

Wednesday, 23rd March 2011, 11.00 a.m.

It is my honor to be present here today and officiate in the Grant Contract signing ceremony for the Nukufetau and Nukulaelae Health Centre in Tuvalu.

Today’s ceremony formalizes Japan’s assistance to these two Health Centres under the Grant Assistance for Human Security Projects Programme (GGP), succeeding the Vaitupu Health Centre as the first project under the programme in 2007, followed by Niutao and Nui Health Centre projects in 2008 and Nanumea and Nanumaga Health Centre projects in 2009 respectively for upgrading medical infrastructure through outer islands of Tuvalu.

As Japan acknowledges the importance of providing high quality and cost effective health service, I am glad to note Tuvalu Health Ministry’s commitment to its core functions in providing adequate and fundamental health services. Japan appreciates the initiative of the Ministry for upgrading of medical service health in outer islands of Tuvalu.

All projects are in line with current Tuvalu’s National strategy for sustainable development “ Te Kakeega II”, and I am confident that the assistances for these two health centres will strongly boost the effort of the Ministry.

The GGP is designed to address basic human needs such as, health, education, water supply, sanitary environment and training, to cohesively promote development at grassroots level. Japan has provided funding assistance to 32 projects with a total value of approximately 2 million US dollars to Tuvalu since the inception of the GGP programme in 1992 till 2010.

The formalization of the aid assistance projects today is the tangible result of the bilateral friendship that exists between Japan and Tuvalu and I am quite confident that this bond will continue to strengthen.

Finally I hope successful completion of these projects and the people of Tuvalu get to derive the maximum benefit from the assistance.

Thank You.