Japan okays aid for infrastructure

Kathmandu, Aug. 17 (RSS): The government of Japan has agreed to extend a grant assistance of Japanese yen 4233.0 million (approximately Rs. 2612 million) to His Majesty’s Government of Nepal.

According to a Finance Ministry press release, two separate exchange of notes to this effect were signed and exchanged between His Majesty’s Government and the government of Japan at the Ministry of Finance today.

Under the first note, the government of Japan will provide a grant assistance of Japanese yen 317.0 million (approximately Rs 2470 milllion) to His Majesty’s Government which will be used to purchase products and services necessary for the construction of roads, bridges, causeways and other related facilities required for the construction of the segment II of Sindhuli Bazar-Khurkot section of Banepa Sindhuli road project.

The segment I of the Sindhuli Bazar-Khurkot section is under construction with the financial and technical assistance of the government of Japan and the segment II will be completed by March 2005.

Under the second note, the government of Japan will provide a grant assistance of Japanese yen 916.0 million (approximately Rs 565 million) to His Majesty’s Government of Nepal for the implementation of the project for improvement of storage facilities of iodised salt.

The grant assistance will be used to construct storage facilities for 13000 metric tonnes of iodised salt in four cities namely, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi. In addition, the assistance will be used to increase transportation capacity for the distribution of iodised salt and also to establish a laboratory for identifying iodine content in the salt. Similarly, necessary equipment will also be installed for adding iodine to the required level.

The project is expected to be completed within one year, according to the Finance Ministry.

The notes were signed by Dr. Bimal Prasad Koirala, secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Mr. Mitsuaki Kojima on behalf of His Majesty’s Government and the government of Japan, respectively.

His Majesty’s Government has expressed its sincere appreciation and thanks to the government of Japan for these assistance and also for its continued interest in the development of Nepal.

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