Press Releases
Grant Assistance to the Republic of the Marshall Islands Signing and Exchange of Notes on “the Project for the Improvement of Access Roads to the Training and Operation Center of Maritime Security and Safety” and “the Economic and Social Development Programme (Basic infrastructure equipment)”
On March 21 in Majuro, capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Mr. TANAKA Kazunari, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Hon. Kalani Radford KANEKO, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, signed and exchanged notes for“the Project for the Improvement of Access Roads to the Training and Operation Center of Maritime Security and Safety” and “the Economic and Social Development Programme” (project of up to three hundred million yen).
- The outline of the Projects is as follows;
- “The Project for the Improvement of Access Roads to the Training and Operation Center of Maritime Security and Safety” (up to two hundred million yen)
The Marshall Islands have a vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and fishing is a major industry. However, due to the lack of proper management of its waters and maritime safety assurance such as search and rescue, incidents of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and drug smuggling in its EEZs have frequently occurred. Therefore, strengthening maritime security capabilities is an urgent issue.
This project is expected to contribute to the economic and social development of the Marshall Islands through social stabilization by strengthening its maritime security capacity through the renovation of access roads to the Coast Guard Training and Command Center, which is under construction by Japan's grant assistance, and provision of vehicles for transporting fuel for vessels. - “The Economic and Social Development Programme (Basic infrastructure equipment)” (up to five hundred million yen (additional one hundred million yen this time))
The Marshall Islands have development difficulties common to Pacific Island countries, such as a large land area, a small domestic market, and geographic distance from international markets. The Marshall Islands are dependent on imports from other countries due to the lack of major industries other than fishing and copra (dried coconut) exports. Water, food, and other supplies are regularly transported from the capital to the islands by cargo ship and small aircraft, but the basic infrastructure essential for economic activities and daily life is inadequate.
This project is expected to strengthen the foundation for economic growth by providing the Marshall Islands government with basic infrastructure development equipment. Although a grant of 500 million yen was signed in March 2021 for this project, Japan has decided to provide an additional grant of 100 million yen due to the shortage of funds caused by the recent sharp rise in prices and other factors.
- “The Project for the Improvement of Access Roads to the Training and Operation Center of Maritime Security and Safety” (up to two hundred million yen)
- At the Ninth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM9) held in July 2021, Japan announced priority areas of assistance, including "Sustainable Oceans based on the Rule of Law” and “Strengthening Foundation for Sustainable and Resilient Economic Development." This project will help to realize these goals.
The country covers 180 square kilometers (about same size of Kasumigaura) and has a population of approximately 42 thousand people. It has a per capita gross national income (GNI) of US$7,270 (2022, World Bank).
On July 2, 2021, the Ninth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM9) was held in the form of a video conference under the co-chairmanship of Mr. SUGA Yoshihide, then Prime Minister of Japan, and Hon. Kausea NATANO, Prime Minister of Tuvalu. The meeting was attended by leaders from 19 countries and regions, including Japan, 14 island countries, Australia, New Zealand, and the two regions of New Caledonia and French Polynesia.
At PALM9, under the Pacific Bond (KIZUNA) Policy, Japan announced the continuation of development assistance over the next three years in five priority areas: (1) COVID-19 Response and Recovery, (2) Sustainable Oceans based on the Rule of Law, (3) Climate Change and Disaster Resilience, (4) Strengthening Foundation for Sustainable and Resilient Economic Development, and (5) People-to-People Exchanges and Human Resource Development for over 5,500 people.