Dispatch of a Preparatory Study Team to the Republic of Yemen to Assist in the Improvement of Maritime Security Capabilities

April 9, 2010
Japanese

From April 12, the Government of Japan will be dispatching a study team to the Republic of Yemen comprised of government officials, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and other members, with regard to the Project for Construction of the Patrol Vessel, a project whose goal is the improvement of maritime security capabilities. This study team will conduct consultations with relevant parties, including officials of the Government of Yemen, and collect the basic data required for the calculation of approximate project costs and the basic design of the vessel to verify the feasibility to formulate a grant aid project.
Ensuring the safety of maritime navigation is an extremely important matter for Japan, a seafaring country and a nation of trade. Incidents of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia continue to rise substantially and continue to pose a threat not only to Japan, but also to the international society. Japan currently deploys escort ships and patrol aircraft to the region, and works together with other countries to deal with piracy. However, in order to solve the piracy issue in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia in a fundamental way, the stabilization of the situation in Somalia along with the improvement of maritime security capabilities of surrounding nations, including Yemen, is important.
Yemen is one of the few countries facing the Gulf of Aden and Somali offshore area that possesses a certain degree of maritime security systems and capabilities. Japan has already extended assistance for the improvement of maritime security capabilities to Yemen by inviting officials of Yemeni Coast Guard to Japan, for training, and providing other support.

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