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Ethiopia and Japan: Agreement for Water Development
Japan and Ethiopia, in an ongoing cooperation between the governments of the two countries, extended on Tuesday a financial assistance worth 557,000,000 Japanese Yen -equivalent to 64 million Ethiopian Birr. The extension was offered in the form of grant aid and is allocated towards the project of the improvement of…
Japan and Ethiopia, in an ongoing cooperation between the governments of the two countries, extended on Tuesday a financial assistance worth 557,000,000 Japanese Yen -equivalent to 64 million Ethiopian Birr. The extension was offered in the form of grant aid and is allocated towards the project of the improvement of Equipment for Ground Water Development in Ethiopia.
Kinichi Komano, the Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, speaking during the occasion, discussed Japan’s continuous role in supporting the development of Ethiopia’s water sector.
Japan has come to recognize Ethiopia’s tremendous potential of under-ground water resources and the Ethiopian government’s efforts in investing in this sector to reduce poverty and allow access to safe water and sanitation, thus ensuring sustainable socio-economic development.
Komano also reinstated past cooperation between the two countries in the water sector, where Japan had been supplying water facilities and providing training for more than 1,700 water experts who are currently in charge of water and sanitation at the Ethiopian Water Technology Center (EWTEC).
The agreement that was signed on Tuesday is not the first of its kind, but rather a continuation of an already established strategic alliance between the two countries.
“Therefore, human resources and this water equipment could yield rich synergy in ground water development in Ethiopia,” he said.
Komano also stated that his government plans on extending a $23 million grant to assist Ethiopia in humanitarian aid and emergency relief while addressing the food security crisis, the emergency water problem, and the procurement of water drilling machineries. The Japanese Embassy will distribute the grant through UNICEF, IFRC, WFP and direct assistance to the government once the the Japanese government approves of the mentioned fund.
“The grant will help us support the development of water technique to help efficient and equitable use of water for sustainable water development,” State Minister Ahmed stated. The grant is one of the main sources of cooperation between the two countries as it will greatly enhance the capacity of water technicians in almost all bureaus of water resources in Ethiopia.
According to the State Minister, the donation follows a request for the financial assistance made by the Ethiopian government.
Japan has made similar assistances to Ethiopia, amounting $9 million that was disbursed through WFP and eleven trucks worth over 1.29 million USD.
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Source: www.africaecon.org