(Arabic Translation is attached) (الترجمة العربية مرفقة)
October 9, 2011
No.12
The Embassy of Japan and JICA discuss Japan’s economic contribution to Iraq with the Government of Iraq in Baghdad
On October 9, 2011, the Embassy of Japan in Iraq, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which is the Japanese governmental implementing agency and Government of Iraq held the Thirteenth Meeting of the Quarterly Monitoring Committee on Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA).
The Committee was co‐chaired by H.E. Mr. Thamir Abbas Ghadhban, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Prime Minister (PMAC), and Mr. Tomofumi Nishinaga, Minister-Counsellor, Embassy of Japan in Iraq.
Attendees from the Iraqi side at the Committee included relevant high-ranking officials from PMAC, the Ministries of Planning, Finance, Oil, Electricity, Transportation, Water Resources, Construction and Housing, Industry and Mineral Resources, Municipalities and Public Works, Health, Communications, as well as Kurdistan Regional Government, etc.
From the Japanese side, two economic officials of the Embassy of Japan in Iraq and six JICA officials including the Director of its headquarters in Tokyo also attended. UNDP officials participated in the Committee as the JICA’s partner for monitoring the transparent and efficient use of Japanese ODA loans in Iraq.
During the Committee, the participants reviewed the progress of 15 projects financed by Japanese ODA Loans worth 3.28 billion US dollars in addition to the exchange of views about the technical cooperation through JICA. Both sides welcomed progress in implementation of the projects, and confirmed challenges and measures to be taken for further acceleration of those projects.
Both sides also shared the need of continuous supports from Japan, and discussed possible future cooperation.
The Government of Japan, JICA and various Japanese companies has been actively engaged in Iraq’s reconstruction and development efforts, and working for further strengthening the friendly ties between the two countries.
Up to date, grant aid programs of worth 1.7 billion US dollars have been almost completed, and now JICA and various ministries are executing 15 significant infrastructure projects in such areas as electricity, oil, water and sanitation, irrigation, transportation, and industry utilizing Japanese ODA loans.
The Monitoring Committee meeting on Japanese ODA has been held quarterly since July 2008, in a collaborative and constructive manner.
H.E. Mr. Thamir Abbas Ghadhban, Chairman of PMAC (Right)
Discussion Session
(END)
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