Japan to implement new projects in Azerbaijan
By Sara Rajabova
The Japanese government is set to implement new grant projects in Azerbaijan as part of the Grassroots and Human Security Grant Assistance Programme.
The Japanese embassy in Azerbaijan hosted the signing ceremony of the two projects - "The construction of drinking water supply system in Erez village of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic's (NAR) Julfa region" and "The construction of drinking water supply system in Kochvelili village of Agstafa region" - on September 29.
The event was attended by Japanese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Tsuguo Takahashi, Azerbaijani MPs Malahat Ibrahimgizi, Nizami Jafarov and representatives from the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and Agstafa region.
The project of the construction of the drinking water supply system in Kochvelili village is the first project by the embassy in Agstafa region. The total cost of the project is estimated at $ 103,092.
The both projects are aimed to meet the demand for drinking water of the village residents with building new water supply system.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Takahashi said since the opening of the Japanese embassy in Baku in 2000, it has implemented 186 projects in Azerbaijan's almost all regions that cover various fields including education, health, agriculture and infrastructure.
He also noted that water occupies the most important place in people's life and expressed hope that the above-mentioned projects will have a positive impact on improvement of daily life of Erez and Kochvelili residents.
The ambassador further added that he will increase his efforts in strengthening bilateral relations between Japan and Azerbaijan.
The other participants highly appreciated the implementation of the grant projects and thanked the Japanese government for its projects in Azerbaijani regions.
The Grassroots and Human Security Grant Assistance Programme supports the projects of municipalities, health institutions and NGOs, which aim to improve the living standards of the Azerbaijani people.
With implementation of the projects on construction of the drinking water supply system in Erez and Kochvelili villages, the number of such projects will reach 188 and total amount is more than $15 million.
The overall amount provided by Japan's Official Development Assistance for Azerbaijan is more than $1 billion, covering a wide range of areas such as improvement of economic infrastructure, agricultural and social sectors, culture as well as human capacity development.