Good afternoon
It is my pleasure to extend you all a very warm welcome to the Embassy this afternoon. Ladies and gentlemen, we have just finished witnessing the signing of the Japanese Grant Contract formalising the government of Japan’s assistance to Habitat for Humanity Fiji to construct and upgrade water supply systems in three villages from three different provinces around Fiji. I must emphasise that this assistance from Japan is in fact very timely and appropriate for a situation of prevailing dry spell and prolong drought conditions severely affecting water sources and livelihood in Fiji.

Japan provides small and flexible grants to support development projects at the grass-roots level through its GGP programme that is specifically designed to address basic human needs, which include water supply, basic education, health, sanitary environment, vocational training and rural infrastructure. Since the inception of this GGP programme in 1993, Japan funded 255 projects with a total value of approximately 12 million US dollars for the people of Fiji Islands alone. In the last Japanese fiscal year, namely April 2009 to March 2010 period, Japan has provided 13 projects under its GGP scheme with a total value of approximately 1 million US dollars around the Fiji Islands.

Today’s signing ceremony is the most evident manifestation of Japan’s continuous support to livelihood of grassroots in Fiji. It is my deep conviction that this assistance will certainly establish much stronger relationship between Japan and Fiji. Japan has, so far, approved four projects under the Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme in the new Japanese fiscal year 2010.

Japan’s commitment follows the financial challenges faced by stakeholders to supply water to areas severely affected by prolong dry weather and I am confident that these water projects will act as mitigating measures during the drought period.

Finally, with these few words, I wish to congratulate you for being a successful recipient out of the numerous proposals received by the Embassy, seeking Japan’s assistance. I also hope that these projects will significantly improve the standard of living and become good role models of our cooperation.

Thank You