Bilateral Relations » Japan's Economic Cooperation between Japan and the Republic of Kiribati » Past Assistance Projects toKiribati» Non-Project Grant Aid» Speech

Speech by H. E. Mr. Yutaka Yoshizawa, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Kiribati on the Occasion of the Signing and Exchange of Notes for the Non-Project Grant Aid to the Republic of Kiribati

at 12.00 p.m., 22nd December 2009, Suva.

I am profoundly honoured to represent the people and the Government of Japan in formalising Japan’s Non Project Grant Aid to the Republic of Kiribati. I appreciate your attendance here this afternoon and wish to thank you all for gathering here to witness the signing and exchange of notes, which formalises Japan’s Non Project Grant Aid, in assisting the people and the Government of Kiribati in their sincere effort to continuously implement necessary structural reforms programme for sustainable economic growth and development.

In acknowledging the difficulties faced by the Government of the Republic of Kiribati, in particular, with financial needs combined with recent global economic recession as well as high prices of imported items, have forced the Pacific Island countries to adjust their socio-economic structures and become more efficient, vibrant and competitive economies, alongside close ties with the people and the Government of Kiribati, the Government of Japan decided to continue providing grant assistance through its Non Project Grant Aid Scheme for its fiscal year 2009 in addition to NPGA provided for the last four years.

This assistance is primarily targeted to assist developing countries with planned economic and structural adjustment including financial and budgetary reforms for national growth and development. Immediate implementation of such reform in key sectors is necessary to stabilise and boost socio-economic activities and ultimately, improving the livelihood of the people.

In addition, the accumulated money which the Kiribati Government will receive by selling procured goods such as fuel under this grant, the so called, counterpart fund, will be available for use in infrastructure projects. In this connection, I would like to appreciate the Government of the Republic of Kiribati’s effort to deposit the counterpart fund for phase 1 of NPGA in 2005 and I hope the counterpart fund for phase II in 2006 will be deposited by its dead line, namely, the end of January 2010, in due course as well.

I am hopeful that this assistance will be utilised wisely in facilitating reform programs for the benefit of the people of Kiribati and add impetus to the efforts of the Kiribati Government by reducing the burden caused by the increasing cost of fuel import.

Finally, I look forward to effective use of this assistance and sincerely hope that it will serve to further strengthen mutual relations and friendship between the people and Government of Japan and Kiribati.

Thank you.

Bilateral Relations » Japan's Economic Cooperation between Japan and the Republic of Kiribati » Past Assistance Projects toKiribati» Non-Project Grant Aid