Good morning,

While appreciating your presence here this morning, I extend to you a warm welcome to this Grant Contract signing ceremony at the Embassy to formalise Japan’s assistance for provision of a library with furniture and walkway to Naidovi Indian School, three new classrooms and a seven-pan toilet to Vunidawa Indian School, general maintenance of the school buildings and construction of two new classroom at Vatuwaqa Primary School and a library with furniture, dormitory beds and a toilet block to Lomaivuna Settlement Primary School

Japan acknowledges the importance of proper educational facilities in the whole learning process and, today’s event is therefore, the most evident manifestation of Japan’s continuous support and firm commitment towards improving basic education facilities at grassroots level. It is my deep conviction that these assistances will further build strong relationship between Japan and Fiji. Japan has, so far, approved eleven out of a total of 13 projects identified for funding under the Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme in the current Japanese fiscal year namely from April 2010 to March 2011.

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 basic education, sanitary environment, water supply, health, vocational training and rural infrastructure. Since the inception of this GGP programme in 1989, Japan funded 264 projects 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 Fiji Islands.

Japan acknowledges the financial hardships faced by stakeholders including Ministry of Education in granting aid to schools for implementation of major capital development projects such as these ones to improve facilities and make learning enjoyable and more rewarding for the children. I must also emphasise that such assistance of this magnitude by development partners, such as Japan, to rural schools will certainly make Government’s new school zoning scheme more meaningful. I am confident that upon completion, these projects will ensure best of resources and equal opportunities available to children to accomplish their goals.

Finally, with these few words, I wish to congratulate your schools for being one of the successful recipients this year and I remain hopeful that these projects will be completed successfully and become good role models of our cooperation.

Thank You