Japan gives Rp 20b in grants

Japan gives Rp 20b in grants

JAKARTA: Japan has earmarked some Rp 20 billion (US$2 million)
in education grants for Indonesia for 2002, Japanese Ambassador
to Indonesia Yukio Takeuchi said on Tuesday.

"The small grants will be channeled directly to the people and
reflect the genuine friendship between Japan and Indonesia,"
Takeuchi said in Magelang, Central Java on Tuesday.

Ambassador Takeuchi was in Magelang to inaugurate dormitories
and classrooms of the Pabelan Islamic boarding school, which the
Japanese government helped finance in 2001 with total assistance
reaching over Rp 800 million.

Present at the induction ceremony were Education Minister
Malik Fadjar, Central Java Governor Mardiyanto and Magelang
Regent Hasyim Affandi.

Minister Malik welcomed the announcement, saying the grants
were "like a rising sun that gives light to the Indonesian people
to build a peaceful nation in the world, especially in developing
good relations between Japan and Indonesia."

The Pabelan Islamic boarding school currently accommodates 568
students or santris. -- JP