Signing Ceremony for the Exchange of Notes for General Grant Aid for the Lao People's Democratic Republic

1. The Government of Japan has decided to extend four projects, as described below, of environmental program grant aid totaling 2 billion and 955million yen to the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Notes to this effect were exchanged on March 4 (Thurs) at the Prime Minister's office between Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and H.E.Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
   (1) The Project for Introduction of Clean Energy by Solar
   (2) The Programme for Forest Information Management
   (3) The Forest Preservation Programme
   (4) The Programme for the Improvement of Capabilities to cope with Natural Disasters Caused by Climate Change
   
   
2. It is significant for the whole Mekong region that the Lao People's Democratic Republic, situated in the center of the Mekong region and covering one third of the Mekong Valley, achieve stable and sustainable growth, making environment consistent with economic growth. At the first Mekong-Japan summit meeting held last November, Japan announced "a Decade toward the Green Mekong" initiative, and put emphasis on the cooperation in the field of environment and climate change in the region. In addition, taking into consideration that Lao People's Democratic Republic expressed its association with the Copenhagen accord, Japan decided to extend the grant aid related to the four projects above as a part of the "Hatoyama Initiative" to assist Lao's efforts in mitigation and adaptation to the adverse impact of climate change.
   
   
3. Outline of the projects are;
   (1) The Project for Introduction of Clean Energy by Solar
      This grant aid will provide solar power generation equipment to be installed in the presidential office of the central government and the Watthai international airport in Vientiane capital.
   
   (2) The Programme for Forest Information Management
      This grant aid will provide Forest Information center and equipments necessary to monitor and analyze forest resources. This grant aid also provide technical assistance such as forestry investigation to develop engineers.
   
   (3) The Forest Preservation Programme
      This grant aid will provide the local governments and universities with equipments necessary for measuring and analyzing forest resources. The grand aid will also support establishing watershed protection forest management through activities such as making forest management plan.
   
   (4)The Programme for the Improvement of Capabilities to cope with Natural Disasters Caused by Climate Change
      This grant aid will provide the central and local governments with equipments necessary for disaster prevention and countering disasters.

(Reference)
Lao People's Democratic Republic is a member of ASEAN, and is located in the center of the Mekong region, covering a land area of 240 thousand square kilometers. The population is about 6 million and 200 thousand people (2008), and Gross National Income(GNI) per capita is 740 dollar (2008).

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