Bilateral Relations » Japan's Economic Cooperation between Japan and Tuvalu » Past Assistance Projects to Tuvalu» Non-Project Grant Aid » Speech

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

at 10.00 a.m. on 23rd March, 2011, Funafuti, Tuvalu

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is my pleasure and privilege to represent the Government of Japan in today’s signing and exchange of notes ceremony, formalising Japan’s successive Non Project Grant Aid to the Government of Tuvalu.

In acknowledging the prolonged financial difficulties associated with global economic and financial recession combined with loss of Tuvalu’s trust fund reserves by as much as twenty percent last year, the Government of Japan has decided to continue assisting Tuvalu through its Non Project Grant Aid (NPGA), largely, to ensure import of adequate fuel to maintain power supply to community and other necessary products for advancement of economic and ongoing structural reforms with minimal impact on Government’s allocation for development of other equally important sectors such as education and health.

At the outset, I wish to take your attention to the fact that Japan, through its NPGA, donated 6 times with total accumulated grant worth approximately 700 million yen to Tuvalu so far and this year, continues to further pledge approximately 1.2 million Australian dollars for fiscal year to 2010, to relieve budgetary pressure on Tuvalu.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, I wish to express my Government’s appreciation to Tuvalu’s effort for timely deposit of counterpart fund for phase 1, 2 and 3 of NPGA and I hope the counterpart fund for this NPGA will be deposited in due course as well.

This NPGA is a manifestation of Japan’s goodwill and friendship to the Government and people of Tuvalu.

Honourable Natano, I remain hopeful that this Non Project Grant Aid will be utilised effectively by your government to overcome the financial constraints and I look forward to the successful completion of the necessary reform programmes for economic prosperity.

Thank you.