Continuous Support

Japan has continued to extend various kinds of assistance to Nepal

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

Last week Japanese government agreed to provide grant assistance of Rs 1.7 billion for the construction of Second Section of Bardibas-Sindhuli highway. The Second Section includes 39-km road between Sindhuli bazaar to Khurkot.

An agreement to this effect was signed on Thursday by Japanese ambassador Tsutomu Hiraoka and Finance Secretary Bhanu Prasad Acharya. The Banepa-Sindhuli-Bardibas highway construction started since 1996 after Japan provided grant assistance for the purpose. Of the total 158 km, 99.5 km of the road has already been completed.

After this highway completes, capital Kathmandu will have an alternative route connecting it with the entire eastern region. People living in remote parts of Kavrepalancowk, Sindhuli and Ramechhap districts will immensely benefit from the highway.  

An alternative route had already become most essential for Kathmandu valley. A few months from now when the monsoon takes hold of the country, landslides and mudslides occurring at multiple places block both Prithvi and Tribhuwan highways – two main existing trunk roads linking the capital with the east and the west.  

Often the obstruction cannot be cleared for days leading to total stoppage in the flow of vehicles and passengers by road. For years, experts and common people have been calling for the construction of alternate highway. The construction of the Sindhuli-Bardibas highway will serve just that purpose. 

By announcing its intention to continue assistance for the second section also, Japan has expressed its interest to finance the project despite the difficult security and political situation in the country. As a longstanding friend of Nepal , Japan has also expressed concern over the recent political changes and has hoped that political detainees are freed soon. Above all, Japanese government has given prime importance to the socio-economic development of Nepalese people. 

Perhaps for the same reason of helping in the socio-economic development of rural Nepalese, the Japanese government has provided 9700 metric tons (MT) of rice to Nepal under a grant assistance of Rs 227.85 million.  

Recently, Tsutomu Hiraoka, ambassador of Japan to Nepal , handed over the rice received under Japan ’s Food Aid to Nepal procured under Japan ’s fiscal year 2003 at a function organized at the premises of Nepal Food Corporation (NFC).  

According to the Japanese Embassy, the assistance aimed to enable Nepalese government to procure rice and supply it to the needy population living in food deficit districts. The Embassy also informed that Japan has been providing food aid to Nepal since 1970. As of Japan ’s fiscal year 2003, the government of Japan has extended its Food Aid to Nepal 16 times, that includes more than 65,000 MT of rice and more than 24,000 MT of wheat, adds the embassy release.

Likewise, upon the request of Nepal , the government of Japan has already committed to provide a grant assistance of Rs 233.1 million as food aid in Japan ’s fiscal year 2004 to Nepal for procuring rice.

Japanese Envoy Comes Calling

Last week Japan dispatched its special envoy to Nepal to receive the latter’s support in its bid to become the permanent member of the UN Security Council. 

Katsuyuki Kawai, parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs of Japan , laded in Kathmandu to garner support for his country. He met with King Gyanendra and other high-level officials of Nepalese government.  

Japan , along with India , Germany and Brazil , has been trying to get the permanent membership of the UNSC. Japan believes that its membership at the UNSC would make the UN more effective and enjoy balanced representation.  

As the largest financier of the UN systems, Japan is a natural claimant to the permanent membership of the UNSC. Japan , for good measure, also believes that its decades-long assistance to countries across the world would also not go unrecognized.

Although Nepal has not yet made its position regarding the UNSC expansion official, it has indicated that it is for reforms. “ Nepal wants reforms in the UN to make it a more strong, effective and meaningful instrument to protect world peace,” Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey had said recently.

Special envoys of Japan , South Korea and China have separately visited Nepal in recent weeks.

 

Given Japan ’s continued support and assistance in the development of infrastructure and socio-economy, Nepal would need to view Japan ’s bid for UNSC membership from positive perspective. “It also gives an opportunity for Nepalese people to show gratitude to Japanese people for their help,” said a foreign policy expert.  

Japan is the largest bilateral donor to Nepal . From big hydroelectric projects to small schools and from mammoth water supply projects to grass-root assistance in the development of particular species of fruits, Japan has helped in different sectors. Whether it be the immediate construction of new Bagmati bridge after the old one caved in, in the early 1990s or the continued debt relief, Japan has always come to Nepal ’s rescue. Japan provided over Rs. 176,000 million (or US D 2200 million) in total assistance since 1969 out of the total foreign aid of Rs 202588.3 million (or US D 5215.68 million), which Nepal received in foreign aid from 1950/51 till 2000/01 (according to figures quoted in the second edition of Eugene Bramer Mihaly’s Foreign Aid and Politics in Nepal). Since 1980 Japan became the largest bilateral donor to Nepal helping the latter in every sphere of its development efforts.