(Arabic Translation is attached/الترجمة العربية مرفقة)
February 09, 2011
No.3
The Embassy of Japan and JICA discuss Japan’s economic contribution to Iraq with the Government of Iraq in Baghdad
On February 9, 2011, the Embassy of Japan in Iraq, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which is the Japanese implementing governmental agency and Government of Iraq held the Eleventh 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, and Mr. Akira Endo, Minister‐Counselor of the Embassy of Japan in Iraq.
Attendees from the Iraqi side at the Committee included relevant high-ranking officials from the Ministries of Planning and Development Cooperation, Finance, Electricity, Transportation, Water Resources, Construction and Housing, Industry and Mineral Resources, Municipalities and Public Works, Health, Communications, Mayoralty of Baghdad, Kurdistan Regional Government, etc.
From Japanese side, in addition to some other officials of the Embassy of Japan in Iraq, four JICA officials including the Director of its headquarters in Tokyo also attended. UNDP as the JICA’s partner for monitoring the transparent and efficient use of Japanese ODA loans participated in the Committee as well.
During the Committee, in addition to the exchange of views about the technical cooperation through JICA, the participants reviewed the progress of 15 projects financed by Japanese ODA Loans worth 3.28 billion US dollars. Both sides welcomed progress in implementation of the projects for early achievement thanks to high performances of some ministries in the areas such as electricity and transportation. Moreover, both sides confirmed challenges and measures to be taken for further acceleration of those projects.
Both sides also shared the need of the continuous support from Japan, and discussed about 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 of 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.
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