Japan says it will not renege on its aid commitments to Tanzania and Sri Lanka despite the devastation caused by a massive earthquake and tsunami that hit the Asian donor country on March 11 as well as a looming nuclear crisis.
Japan’s ambassador to Tanzania, Hiroshi Nakagawa, assured on March 23 that his country will not cut its assistance to the African nation.
“We will continue helping Tanzania….implementation of all projects that receive support from Japan will continue as planned,” he said at a news conference.
Japan offered grants totaling 2.54 billion Japanese yen ($31 million) to support Tanzanian projects to upgrade a substation and transmission line in Kilimanjaro region, and build the Rusumo International Bridge, local daily The Citizen reports.
In Sri Lanka, Japan has extended 44 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($398 million) under its annual loan package to support development initiatives in the South Asian nation. The funding will be spent on an urban transport project in Colombo and a transmission line scheme in the districts of Vavuniya and Kilinochchi, Asian Tribune reports.
Read more development aid news.
