Jica assures continuity of aid assistance to PNG development

By GLORIA BAUAI
JAPAN International Cooperation Agency’s (Jica) Dr Akihiko Tanaka says Japan, as an island nation, depends heavily on its connections with bilateral partners like Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Dr Tanaka said this while assuring the agency’s commitment to enhancing PNG’s development, contributing to the sustainable development of the country and strengthening bilateral relations.
Jica has undertaken various impact projects in PNG in the transport, education and energy sectors.
Dr Tanaka said the continuing assistance to PNG was guided by Japan’s two main pillars of human security and quality growth.
“Recently, human security globally has been threatened a lot by Coronavirus (Covid-19), climate change, frequent natural disasters and the Ukraine war,” he said.
“The Covid-19 emergency financial support to PNG was our quick response.
“But, in the long term, to achieve human security through quality growth, we need to have basic systems such as basic infrastructure and basic capability.
“Hence, Jica’s activities in this country were centred on human resource development such as education through helping in preparing good curriculum and encourage talents to acquire knowledge through scholarship programmes.
“In addition to this is basic infrastructure which is essential for quality growth, transforming your society to be more resilient in order to achieve human security.”
Dr Tanaka was in PNG from April 18-20 during which he met Prime Minister James Marape and other Government officials to exchange views for socio-economic development of PNG and observe ongoing Jica projects and programmes in the country.
Dr Tanaka said PNG would continue to play a role in the quality growth of not only its own but also the global economy.
He said PNG’s decision of renaming Nadzab Tomodachi International Airport was a proof of the strong relationship.
Marape expressed his appreciation for the quality of the projects implemented by Jica.