Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2009
2. Sustainable Growth
(1) Socio-economic Infrastructure
For poverty reduction in developing countries, it is indispensable not only to implement measures to reduce poverty or to provide assistance in the areas of social development that could directly influence the poor, but also to promote sustainable development through economic growth. For this reason, it is important to improve socio-economic infrastructure that provides the foundation for the improvement of developing countries.
<Japan's Efforts>
On the basis of the development policies of developing countries, Japan supports infrastructure development and fosters the human resources to develop, manage, and operate this infrastructure. In terms of specific infrastructure development, development is carried out on roads, ports, airports, and so on. Such infrastructure contributes to expanding exchange between urban and rural areas, ensures security against disasters, and promotes trade and investment from overseas. Social infrastructure development which contributes to ensuring education, health, safe water and sanitation, housing, and better access to hospitals and schools is also carried out. So too is the development of agricultural and fishery markets and fishery ports in order to vitalize local economies.
Project for Reinforcement of the Capacity of Marine Transport inside The Gulf of Tadjoura (Djibouti)
Major cities like the capital city Djibouti City, Tadjoura, and Obock are situated on the shore of the Gulf of Tadjoura, and ship transport has traditionally been the means of transportation for the people. However, the mid-sized ferryboats that had been at the center of their transport operations deteriorated, and finally in 2004 they became un-operational. Therefore, Japan provided grants to replace these ferry boats and for rubber fenders. Through this, the public sea transport lanes connecting the capital of Djibouti City with the two major cities in the north has been improved. This will enable the transport of 26,000 passengers, 1,150 automobiles, and roughly 1,500 tons of cargo per year.