Press Releases
Signings of Exchange of Notes on Grant Aid for Myanmar
On March 24 (same day local time), on the occasion of a visit to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar by Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Fumio Kishida, signings of Exchange of Notes on the following six Grant Aid projects took place in Naypyidaw, the capital city of Myanmar, in the presence of Minister Kishida and H.E. Mr.Wunna Maung Lwin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar. The total amount to be granted to the projects is up to 7.775 billion yen. (Overview(PDF)
1. Development of infrastructure required for sustainable economic growth and improvement of people’s livelihood
Mr. Mikio Numata, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Myanmar, and H.E. Ms.Lei Lei Thein, Deputy Minister, Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development, signed Exchange of Notes concerning the following three Grant Aid projects.
(1) The Project for Installation of Operation Control Center System and Safety Equipment (Maximum grant amount: 4 billion yen)
Of the main railway lines linking the key Myanmar cities of Yangon and Mandalay, this project will install centralized train monitoring system covering the Yangon Central Railway Station to Pyuntasa Station, electronic interlocking system covering Yangon Central Railway Station to Pazundaung Station, and rail crossing automatic alarm devices between Togyaunggalay Station and Ywarthargyi Station. It is expected that implementation of the project will improve rail transportation capacity and bring about operational safety in this section.
(2) The Project for Improving Loikaw General Hospital in Kayah State (Maximum grant amount: 1.945 billion yen)
At Loikaw General Hospital in Kayah State in eastern Myanmar, decrepit hospital facilities will be reconstructed and medical equipment will be replaced. It is expected that implementation of the project will improve Loikaw General Hospital’s medical services and strengthen its functions as a core hospital of the region.
(3) The Food Security Project for Underprivileged Farmers (Maximum grant amount: 230 million yen)
Agricultural machineries such as tractors will be deployed at the Agriculture Tractor Stations in Naypyidaw, Bago Region, Mandalay and Sagaing Region. It is expected that implementation of the project will improve the agricultural productivity in these regions and improve the incomes of farmers.
2. Support for ethnic minority areas
For the following three Grant Aid projects, signings of Exchange of Notes took place between Ambassador Extraordinary Numata and Mr. Dom Scalpelli, Country Director and Representative, WFP Myanmar; Ms. Shalini Bahuguna, Deputy Representative, UNICEF Myanmar; Mr. Ayaki Ito, Representative a.i., UNHCR Myanmar regarding a cooperative project with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
(1) The Programme for Emergency Food Assistance to Displaced Persons in Rakhine, Kachin and Northern Shan States (Maximum grant amount: 1 billion yen)
In cooperation with the WFP, food assistance will be provided to displaced persons in the Rakhine, Kachin and Northern Shan States, which are ethnic minority areas. It is expected that implementation of the programm will improve the nutrition of displaced persons.
(2) The Programme for Emergency Assistance to Displaced Children in Kachin and Rakhine (in cooperation with UNICEF) (Maximum grant amount: 300 million yen)
For displaced women and children in the Rakhine and Kachin States, which are ethnic minority areas, this programme aims at providing medical supplies and nutritional supplements and constructiong water and hygiene-related facilities etc., in cooperation with UNICEF. It is expected that implementation of the programm will improve the water and hygiene environment and nutrition and health for children.
(3) The Programme for Assistance to Displaced Persons in South-East of Myanmar, Rakhine, Kachin and Northern Shan States (in cooperation with the UNHCR) (Maximum grant amount: 300 million yen)
In cooperation with the UNHCR, this programme aims at constructing and repairing shelters and basic infrastructure and providing guidance on operation and coordination of refugee camps, at refugee camps and surrounding areas in southeast Myanmar, Rakhine, Kachin and Northern Shan States, which are ethnic minority areas. It is expected that implementation of the programm will improve the living environment of displaced persons.