ECONOMY (Spotlight Weekly)

JICA PRESIDENT'S VISIT
Building Partnership

JICA president Kimio Fujita expresses commitment to help improve Radar facilities at the airport

By A CORRESPONDENT

As the frequency of international as well as domestic flights continue to increase at the country's only Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA), ensuring air safety is of everybody's concern.

Recently during his visit to Nepal, President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Fujita has assured that the agency would help equip TIA with modern radar facilities.

Japan has already spent 35 million rupees to install sophisticated radar system at the TIA and has shown willingness to further enhance the facility.

"We will start our work to enhance the covering area by upgrading its system as soon as possible," said Fujita at the press meet.

Following two major air crashes in the country, Japanese government constructed Radar Station at the TIA. Japanese government has agreed to start expansion work but it has been delayed due to non-committal attitude of Civil Aviation Authority.

JICA has asked Civil Aviation Authority to train manpower and fulfil its commitment to meet the requirement needed to handle the infrastructure.

Nepal has been receiving economic support from Japan since early 1970s through Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the quest of all round development.

During his four day stay in Nepal, JICA president Fujita inspected some of Japanese aided projects including the TIA's radar station, Sindhuli Road Construction Project, Sericulture Demonstration Farm and Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital.

"JICA will continue its support in infrastructure development, service sectors and production areas as we don't want to place too much emphasis in one area only," said Fujita.

JICA has already contributed to the improvement of urban transport management by constructing Bus Terminal and some bridges in the Valley. Hydro power plant, transmission line and Bardibas-Sindhuli road are other important areas of Japanese cooperation.

In horticulture and agriculture, Japanese cooperation has played a very important role. JICA has already constructed drinking water treatment plant at Bansbari.