Japan providing K61mil grant, medical equipment

THE Japanese government will provide K61 million in grant and medical equipment to PNG, it was announced yesterday.
The grant is to help improve the maritime security and medical equipment for health sector development.
Japan’s ambassador to PNG Kuniyuki Nakahara and PNG Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Patrick Pruaitch exchanged notes regarding the assistance yesterday in Port Moresby.
Nakahara said the grant would be for two projects: Provide three speedboats and telecommunication equipment to the National Maritime Services Authority (NMSA) at a cost of K32 million and provide medical equipment at the cost of about K29 million.
He said the three speedboats were fully equipped and would be allocated at the NMSA branch offices at Alotau, Kokopo and Madang and would cover the country’s maritime territory.
“The telecommunication equipment will be installed at six NMSA branches and is expected to catch all SOS signals from the coastal ocean in PNG,” he said.
Nakahara said about 60 per cent of PNG’s population lived in coastal areas and used various forms of boats as means of transportation and for daily survival.
“They are facing dangers including sudden change of climate, piracy or troubles with boat engines or other equipment.
“It is my sincere hope that the new boats and the telecommunication equipment of NMSA will save lives and will make considerable contribution to the development of the coastal economy.”
Pruaitch on behalf of the Government thanked Nakahara and the Government of Japan for their support to PNG.