Press Releases

» Japan Provides Grant for Coastal Fisheries Development

Fishing industry in the Republic of the Kiribati is set to develop with the construction of a new storage and handling area at the fishing port at Kiritimati Island. The new storage and handling area will be funded through a grant of 739,000,000 Japanese Yen (approx. US$7.1 million) provided by the Government of Japan under Japan’s General Grant Aid Programme to Kiribati.

A ceremony will be held at the Embassy of Japan, Suva at 11.00 a.m. on 18th January 2005 where the Honourable Tetabo Nakara, Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Development and the Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Kenro Iino will sign and exchange notes formalising Japan’s assistance towards this project.

Japan’s assistance follows a request from the Government of Kiribati for assistance in 2003. In response, a survey and detailed design exercise was conducted by Japan, after which the two Governments agreed on the final project. The main activity of the project is to construct and improve receiving, handling and storing facilities of fisheries products at Ronton area, the only fishing port at Kiritimati Island, as well as to provide relevant equipments and materials.

Fishing is the key industry of the Kiritimati Island employing directly or indirectly about 90% of the people. Majority of the households in the Kiritimati Island are engaged in fishery as a source of income and this number has been increasing with the immigration policy promoted by the Government of the Republic of Kiribati.

The Government of Japan’s assistance is aimed at assisting the Kiribati Government in providing the necessary infrastructure for the fisheries sectors growth. This project is expected to be completed by February 2006. By this project, marine products such as coastal migratory species and reef fish will be produced and then transported to capital Tarawa. Hence, the project aims to alleviate fisheries products shortage at Tarawa and to abolish economic differentials between Tarawa and Kiritimati Island through the development of coastal fisheries.