Japan supporting PNG’s development plans

JAPANESE Ambassador Kuniyuki Nakahara, says Japan supports PNG’s development plans through loans, grant assistance and technical cooperation.
Nakahara told The National that a recent example of loan projects was the Port Moresby Sewerage System Upgrading Project.
“This K236 million loan project was completed last year, and I am glad to hear that the sea off the capital became unbelievably clean after this project,” Nakahara said.
“In addition, a current loan project of K238 million aims to strengthen the high-voltage line of 140km at the Ramu grid by making it a double-circuit transmission.”
Another example is the redevelopment of Nadzab airport in Lae by a loan of K770 million.
At the end of last month, the groundbreaking ceremony was officiated by Prime Minister James Marape.
As a grant assistance project, the construction of two bridges worth K90 million was completed in Kimbe last year.
“Japan has also been carrying out a series of projects to provide road building and maintenance equipment such as excavators or bulldozers, which has so far amounted to K42 million,” he said.
“I have been told that, using these machines, the Department of Works constructed 145km of roads in 2019.”
On technical cooperation, around 4,400 people from PNG studied in Japan under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) in various fields.
“From Japan, around 1,300 experts have worked in PNG. The number of Japanese volunteers by Jica who worked in PNG is now over 700, and this year the activity of Jica volunteers will commemorate its 40th anniversary.”