Press Releases
Grant Assistance to the Republic of Palau: Signing and Exchange of Notes on “the Project for Enhancing Border Management Capacity through the Introduction of the eMRP (Electronic Machine-Readable Passport)”
On March 5, in Koror, the Republic of Palau, H. E. Mr. ORIKASA Hiroyuki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Palau, and Salvatore SORTINO, Chief of Mission of International Organization for Migration (IOM) Micronesia Office, signed and exchanged notes for “the Project for Enhancing Border Management Capacity through the Introduction of the eMRP (Electronic Machine-Readable Passport)” (project up to 667 million yen).
- This project aims at strengthening the border control capacity which is a security challenge of Palau through creating an environment for the introduction of Electronic Machine-Readable passport (e-passport) by revising the Immigration Control Act, developing human resources to strengthen the identification management system, and installing appropriate e-passport issuing equipment.
- In the “Leaders Declaration” and the "Joint Action Plan" issued at the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) held on July 18, 2024, Japan announced “Peace and Security” and “Technology and Connectivity” as the priority areas of cooperation, and this project embodies the Plan.
The Republic of Palau covers an area of 488 square kilometers, a population of 17,727 (World Bank, 2023), and a gross national income (GNI) per capita of US$14,100 (World Bank, 2023).
On July 18, 2024, the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) was co-chaired by Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio and Prime Minister Mark BROWN of the Cook Islands, the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The Meeting was attended by the leaders and representatives of 19 countries, regions and regional organization including Japan, 14 Pacific Island countries, two French overseas collectivities, Australia, and New Zealand, and the chair of Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). President Surangel S Whipps Jr. represented the Republic of Palau.
The Government of Japan announced Japan’s commitment to continue its robust development assistance and support for more than 6,500 people-to-people exchanges as well as human resource development over the next three years based on the seven priority areas of cooperation which are in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent or “2050 Strategy" of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF): (1) Political Leadership and Regionalism, (2) People-centered Development, (3) Peace and Security, (4) Resources and Economic Development, (5) Climate Change and Disasters, (6) Ocean and Environment, (7) Technology and Connectivity.