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 of Exchange of Notes for the Non - Project Grant Aid to Tuvalu

at 11.00 a.m. on 27th January, 2012, Embassy Office in Suva, Fiji

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is my pleasure and privilege to represent the Government of Japan at today’s signing of the Exchange of Notes ceremony, formalising Japan’s successive Non-Project Grant Aid (NPGA) to the Government of Tuvalu.

Japan will provide a sum of 100Million Japanese yen equivalent to 1.3Million US Dollars to the Tuvalu Government which will be used to provide diesel fuel on Tuvalu power plant and vessels servicing remote islands and desalination projects that subsequently support the basic human needs of the people of Tuvalu.

The Government of Japan has provided NPGA to Tuvalu for the past 6 years since 2005 and has decided to continue assisting Tuvalu in ensuring that it imports adequate fuel to maintain power supply to its communities and other necessary products for advancement of economic and ongoing structural reforms with minimal impact on Government’s allocation for the development of other equally important sectors such as education and health.

Please take note that it is unusual on any NPGA to operate for more than 3 years in any country, however, with the Tuvalu Government, I wish to take your attention to the fact that;  Japan has donated 6 times and this will be the 7th. This NPGA transition is an exhibit of Japan’s goodwill and friendship to the Government and people of Tuvalu with special consideration on the serious impact of last year’s drought which severely affected the Tuvalu economy.

I wish to take this opportunity to express my Government’s appreciation to Tuvalu’s government for the timely implementation of previous NPGA projects and I hope funding for this NPGA will be organised in a similar manner.

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

Thank you.