Chapter 2

Section 2

2. Southwest Asian Region

Japan’s bilateral ODA to the Southwest Asian region in 2002 was approximately $1.16 billion, 17.2% of total bilateral ODA.

Japan has been carrying out assistance in the Southwest Asian region placing importance on the following points, as stated in the medium-term policy.

The Southwest Asian region is home to one-fifth of the world’s population, many of whom live in poverty, as four countries in the region are classed as least developed countries (LDCs). In addition to its poverty and population problems, the Southwest Asian region is also plagued by low rates of primary school enrollment, inadequate healthcare, and infectious diseases. Along with Africa, it presents the international community with the greatest challenges regarding the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Southwest Asian region has become the focus of major concern for the international community, including Japan, due to the nuclear nonproliferation issue and the “fight against terrorism” in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States (US).

It is necessary for Japan to continue to place importance on measures to overcome the poverty issue faced by this region and to support desirable movements toward stability and development of the region, for example economic liberalization of the countries in the region, regional cooperation focused on economic aspects, etc as well.

As support for alleviating poverty and ensuring the livelihood of the poor, Japan is coordinating grant aid and technical cooperation to provide cooperation in the BHN sectors, such as agriculture, living environment, health and medical services, etc. particularly to LDCs like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives. In particular Japan is supporting the World Health Organization (WHO) target of “eradicating polio from the world by 2005” and in order to achieve that target, following on from the eradication of polio from the Western Pacific region, it has been providing active support for the eradication of polio from the Southwest Asian region. In fiscal year 2002 Japan provided India, Pakistan and Bangladesh with grant aid through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the “Project for the Eradication of Poliomyelitis” of each of those countries. And in November 2001 Japan announced it would provide Pakistan with grant aid of $300 million over approximately two years to support poverty reduction, including support for the education and health sectors. Currently Japan is providing this assistance.

Looking at support for human resources development and social and economic infrastructure development intended to revitalize private-sector activities and create a more attractive environment for foreign investment, because both India and Pakistan have relatively high technology standards, Japan is providing mainly Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka with support for human resources development. Concerning social and economic infrastructure development, Japan is mostly carrying out projects related to basic infrastructure through grant aid in the LDCs within the region. And, Japan is using ODA loans to provide funds for the “Power Sector Restructuring Program,” the “Rural Economic Development and Promotion Project,” the “Small-scale Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Upgrading Project,” etc. as support to contribute to poverty reduction and reforms in the energy sector and transportation infrastructure sector in India and the electricity supply sector in Sri Lanka.

Looking at support for environmental conservation to cope with the increasing environmental burden created by population and economic growth, in fiscal year 2002 Japan implemented the “Punjab Afforestation Project (II)” and the “Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Conservation Project” with ODA loans as cooperation for forest conservation in India where environmental degradation is a particularly serious problem.

Refer to Part I for details about support for the peace process in Sri Lanka.