Sudan News Agency

Khartoum, April 6 (SUNA) - The Governments of Sudan and Japan Wednesday signed at the Ministry of International Cooperation a grant agreement of about 13 million US dollars to be used for improving water supplies in Kassala city. The agreement was signed by the Minister of International Cooperation Dr. Jalal Yousif Al-Degair and the Japanese Ambassador to Sudan Akinori Wada. Addressing the signing ceremony, the Minister expressed the sympathy and condolences of the Government and people of Sudan to the people and government of Japan over the recent earth quake and Tsunami that hit Japan recently causing huge loss in lives and propteries, expressing hope that Japan be able to overcome this calamity with the assistance of the International Community. The Minister explained that some 50 Japanese businessmen and investors were supposed to visit Sudan only few days after the catastrophe in order to review the horizons of investment and to embark on economic partnerships with their Sudanese counterparts. He further commended the supportive stances of Japan towards the Sudan as well as its effective contributions in the peace and stability programmes in Sudan. The Minister explained that Japan has fulfilled its commitment during the two donor's conferences of Oslo and implemented the UN plan for the year 2005, including the removal of mines as well as programmes of DDR at the cost of 100 million US dollars. He explained that this amount was multiplied by three in the recent period. Dr. Al-Degair also touched on Japan's commitment during the 2nd Donors conference of Oslo to extend 200 million US Dollars for basic services all over the Sudan via UNICEF for the period (2008 -2011). He further referred to the implementation of Kassala humanitarian projects, which was signed last February at the cost of 17 million US Dollars. Dr. Al-Degair commended the great efforts being undertaken by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the Sudan. He explained that Japan has supported the comprehensive peace agreement and other projects with 320 million US dollars, particularly in Darfur States, Eastern and Southern Sudan and provided Sudan with more than 650 training opportunities in all disciplines as from 2005 - 2010. The Japanese Ambassador, Akinori Wada, commended the support of the Sudanese people and government to the people of Japan during the recent earthquake that hit Japan, saying that extending some 100,000 US dollars by the Government was highly appreciated by the Japanese Government. The Ambassador explained that the JICA will undertake a greater role in Sudan in domains of transfer of Technology, training, maternity, childhood, water, capacity building as well as development projects. The Japanese Ambassador said the Grant which was signed Wednesday is the first direct grant by Japan to Sudan since 1990s. MF /MA
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