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:: Japan's Economic Cooperation between Japan and the Republic of the Fiji Island
According to the OECD statistics, Japan was the largest donor to the Republic of the Fiji Islands in 1997. The three vital components of ODA programs are Grant Aid, Technical Cooperation and Loan Aid.
Grant Aid
The Grant Aid program has been a major component of Japan's ODA to Fiji. The threshold for grant aid eligibility is determined according to World bank statistics and Fiji is above this threshold. owever, Japan provides general grant aid to Fiji only for projects in the fisheries sectors and for those projects which have regional benefits. Japan also provides Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) for grassroots comminities, Emergency Aid in such cases as natural disasters, and Cultural Grant Aid for maintaining historical sites and promoting education and culture.
General Grant Aid
The following is list of projects funded under Japan's General Grant Aid program since 1991:
| 1991-1992 |
Redevelopment of the Fiji School of Medicine and CWM Hospital (approx. US$17.5m) |
| 1995-1996 |
Upgrading of Meteorological Observation and Forecasting System (approx. US$11.1m) |
| 1996 |
Construction of Marine Studies Facilities at the University of the South Pacific (approx. US$11.9) |
| 1998 |
Upgrade of USPNet Communications System (approx.US$2.5m) |
| 1998 |
Construction of Paediatric Unit at CWM Hospital(approx.US$11.7m) |
| 2002 |
Construction of New Fiji Pharmaceutical Services Center (approx. US$8.8m) |
The total Grant Aid from 1980 to date has been approximately US$103 million Specific budgets for each country are not predetermined and projects in each country are judged on their individual merits.
Grant Assistance for Grassroots Project (GGP)
The funding ceiing under the GGP programme is normally US$40,000. However, this can be increased to US$400,000 in special cases. A total of 156 projects to the value of approximately US$5,912,626 have been funded under this programme from 1990 to 2002. The area targeted are primary education, health, water supply, women in development, environment, small-scale electrification, disability and vocational training.
16 projects to the value of US$634,941 (approx.FJ$1.27 million) were funded in the 2002 financial year as folloe:
|
FY 2002 Project Title |
US$ |
FJ$ |
|
1.
|
Andhra High School Automotive Engineering Workshop Project |
30,914.00 |
61,631.90 |
| 2. |
Project for the Construction of New Hostel at Nawi Catholic Primary School |
45,492.00 |
90,693.94 |
| 3. |
Upgrading Project for Ratu Finau Secondary School |
18,044.00 |
35,974.21 |
| 4. |
Upgrading Project for Tovu Village School Footpath |
8,127.00 |
16,203.28 |
| 5. |
Upgrading Project for Rampur College |
61,387.00 |
125,000.00 |
| 6. |
Upgrading Project for Lawaki District School |
27,816.00 |
55,444.19 |
| 7. |
Upgrading Project for Levuka Public Primary School |
49,272.00 |
100,330.62 |
| 8. |
Upgrading Project for Vunisalusalu Central School |
45,135.00 |
91,907.39 |
| 9. |
Library Construction Project for Vunimoli Islamia Primary and Secondary School |
23,310.00 |
47,466.40 |
| 10. |
Upgrading Project for Nasekula District School |
47,815.00 |
97,365.00 |
| 11. |
Project for River Care Education |
53,304.00 |
106,268.00 |
| 12. |
Provision of a Bus for the Gospel School for the Deaf |
45,144.00 |
90,000.00 |
| 13. |
Mead Road Community Hall Upgrading Project |
36,115.00 |
72,000.00 |
| 14. |
Project for the Provision of Computers to Secondary Schools |
5,542.00 |
11,049.00 |
| 15. |
Project for the Provision of Blood Donor Services Ambulances and Radio Equipment to Fiji Red Cross Soceity |
73,264.00 |
146,061.00 |
| 16 |
Project for the Improvement of Water Supply for Communities Affected by Cyclone "Ami" |
64,260.00 |
128,110.00 |
|
Total |
634,941.00 |
1,275,504.93 |
Cultural Grant Aid
The Cultural Grant Aid scheme was introduced in 1975 as part of the official development assistance (ODA) for the purpose of contributing to the promotion of education and cultural activities. This scheme provides a grant of upto Yen 50 million per project to cover the procurement cost of equipmentto be used for various cultural and educational activities as well as the cost of equipment transportation and installation. The procedures for the execution of Cultural Grant Aid are in general similar to those for General Grant Aid.
Types of Cultural Grant Aid:
The total Cultural Grant Aid to Fiji from 1981 to date has been approximately FJ$5.2 million. The following is a list of projects funded under the programme since 1991:
| 1991 |
Donation of Mobile Libraries, Microfilm Equipment, Audio Visual Equipment and Books to the Suva City Library (approx.FJ$500,000) |
| 1993 |
Upgrading of Sound and Lighting Facilities for the Suva Nw Town Hall (approx.FJ$570,000) |
| 1995 |
Supply of Library Literacy and Outreach Services Equipment for the Library Services of Fiji (approx.FJ$704,000 |
| 1995 |
Donation of Sports Equipment to the Ministry of Youth, Employment Opportunities and Sports (approx.FJ$569,000 |
| 1996 |
Donation of Exhibition, Research and Preservation Equipment to the Fiji National Museum (approx.FJ$698,298 |
| 1997 |
Supply of Equipment for Production of Educational Programmes to the School of Bradcasting Unit, Ministry of Education (approx.FJ$570,000) |
| 1999 |
Supply of Musical Instruments and Sports Equipment to the Fiji College of Advanced Education (approx. FJ$830,000 |
| 2000 |
Supply of Musical Instruments to the Fiji Police Band (approx. FJ$325,000) |
Technical Cooperation
The areas covered under Technical Cooperation are very diversified and include such sectors as agriculture, fishery, industry, infrastructure and health. Technical Cooperation programs to Fiji are composed of the following:
- At present 3 long-term experts are dispatched to the University of the South pacific to implement the "Project for ICT Capacity Bulding at USP", which includes the upgrading and/or provision of ICT equpment (approx.US$ 4m);
- Acceptance of trainees: An average of 90 trainees have been accepted each year;
- Dispatch of experts: At present 5 experts are working in Fiji in the field of International Trade Development, Tourism Development, SOPAC, Environmental Impact Assessment, WHO;
- Dispatch of volunteers from the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV): At present 41 volunteers are working in Fiji in fields such as basic education, health, civil engineering, etc;
- Dispatch of volunteers from the Senior Volunteer Program (SV): At present 17 volunteers are working in Fiji in fields such as vocational training, computer database and network, city planning, etc; and
- Development survey and development cooperation projects: Examples of these include studies on fisheries development and management, groundwater developments, watershed management, resources surveys and health.
Loan Aid
These are long-term, low-interest loans and are implemented by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The primary role of loan aid is to help countries develop their social and economic infrastructures. In 1997, Japan granted for the first time a loan of 2,287 million yen (approx.F$32.7m) to Fiji Islands for the impllementation of the Nadi-Lautoka Regional Water Supply Project. The loan is to be repaid at an annual interest rate of 2.5% over 25 years, including a 7-year grace period.
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