Press Releases
Grant Assistance to the Federated States of Micronesia: Signing and Exchange of Notes on “The Economic and Social Development Programme (Cable Landing Station)”
(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
On March 18, in Tokyo, Japan, 2025, in the occasion of the Japan- Federate States of Micronesia (FSM) Summit Working Dinner, H.E. Mr. KAGOMIYA Nobuo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the FSM, and the Honourable Lorin S. ROBERT, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the FSM exchanged the notes regarding “the Economic and Social Development Programme (Cable Landing Station)” (project up to 380 million yen) in the presence of H.E Mr. Shigeru ISHIBA, Prime Minister of Japan and H.E. Mr. Wesley W. SIMINA, President of the FSM.
- In April 2024, Japan and the United States announced a plan to collaborate with like-minded partners to build trusted and more resilient networks and intend to contribute funds to provide subsea cables in the Pacific region, including provision of the fund amounting to $16 million for cable systems in the FSM and Tuvalu. This project involves the construction of a cable landing station to connect the cable system to the domestic telecommunications network in the FSM.
- The FSM is a country of archipelago consisting of 4 states and approximately 607 islands within, stretching in 2,550 km from east to west with. Due to its specific geographical characteristics, it has been crucial to develop communications environment that can serve as foundation for economic activity and social life. This cooperation is expected to contribute to strengthening the digital communications environment by adding redundancy to the cable system by connecting a new subsea cable to the Chuuk State.
- In the “Leaders Declaration” and the "Joint Action Plan" issued at the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) held on July 18, 2024, Japan has announced "Technology and Connectivity" as one of the priority areas of cooperation, and this project embodies the Plan.
(Reference1) Basic Data on the Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia covers 700 square kilometers and has a population of 115,224 people (2023, World Bank). It has a per capita gross national income (GNI) of US$4,150 (2023, World Bank).
(Reference2) Japan-U.S. Joint Leaders’ Statement:( “Global Partners for the Future”)
On April 10, 2024, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, during his official visit to Washington D.C., held a Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting with the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr., President of the United States of America, and issued the joint statement as the outcome of the meeting.
・Japan-U.S. Joint Leaders’ Statement: “Global Partners for the Future”
(Extract) Building on the U.S.-Australia joint funding commitment for subsea cables last October, the United States and Japan plan to collaborate with like-minded partners to build trusted and more resilient networks and intend to contribute funds to provide subsea cables in the Pacific region, including $16 million towards cable systems for the Federated States of Micronesia and Tuvalu.
(Reference3) 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 10)
On July 18, the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) was co-chaired by Prime Minister KISHIDA and Prime Minister 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 Wesley W.Simina represented the FSM.
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.