Students visit Japanese agency

By JOY TOROME
Grade 11 students of Paradise High School in Port Moresby have visited the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) head office to learn about Japanese culture and what Jica was doing in the country.
The students have been learning about culture in their language and literature classes.
Jica representative Thomas Samson told the students that Jica had spent about K5.3 billion in official development assistance (ODA) in Papua New Guinea since 1975.
“Japan is the second largest trading partner of PNG and has a long history with PNG”, he said.
Samson told the students that Jica offered loans, grant aid and technical assistance to the PNG Government and people.
He said Jica had three ongoing loan projects at the cost of K1. 2 billion: Port Moresby sewerage systems upgrade project, Ramu transmission reinforcement project and Nadzab Airport redevelopment project.
“The Jica grant aid for this year to PNG amounts to K1.2 billion for reconstruction of bridges on New Britain Highway and the rehabilitation of Alotau fish market”, Samson said.
Emma Olmi, who spent most of her childhood in Japan, explained the culture of Japan and its political, social and economic history. Another employee, Ippei Shimuzi, said Jica was giving technical assistance to the Department of Education for the introduction of the standard-based curriculum.