Japan provides $170m in aid for Indonesia

Japan provides $170m in aid for Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): Japan and Indonesia yesterday closed a two-day
annual consultation on technical cooperation and grant
assistance, totaling US$170 million, to be implemented this
fiscal year.

The record of discussion was signed yesterday by S. Kitajima,
Director of the Aid Policy Division at the Japanese Foreign
Ministry, and Wisber Loeis, Indonesian Director General of
Foreign Economic Relations.

When asked about the projects to be financed by the grants,
Loeis and Kitajima said that the projects were subject to the
approval of a number of Indonesian ministries.

"In fact, we agree with Indonesian authorities, but it is
still subject to cabinet approval. We'll also have to implement
some preliminary studies," Kitajima said.

Kitajima, who led the Japanese delegation in the discussion,
noted that the grant assistance would emphasize Indonesian
economic development, covering the fields of poverty alleviation,
human resources development, education, environment and
infrastructure.

Informed sources from the National Development Planning Board
(Bappenas) told The Jakarta Post that the grant would most likely
be used to finance on-going projects.

The ongoing projects include the construction of the
Yogyakarta Sewage Treatment Plant, the establishment of the
Center for Japanese Studies at the University of Indonesia, the
construction of the New Emergency Unit at the Dr. Soetomo
Hospital in Surabaya, the improvement of Training Equipment for
South-South Cooperation and Vocational Training Equipment.

Last year, Japan conferred grant assistance of some 7.6
billion yen (US$ 76 million) to Indonesia for the improvement of
social conditions, medical and sanitary conditions and the
quality of the water supply. (rid)