Governments of Japan and Liberia Exchange Notes worth US$25 Million
Photo Credit: Public Affairs Bureau
The Governments of Japan and Liberia have signed and Exchange Notes for Japan Food Aid and a Non-Project Grant Aid worth nearly 2.1 billion Japanese Yen (approximately US$25 million).
At the ceremony, which took place at the Foreign Ministry’s Conference Room Tuesday, Foreign Minister, Dr. Toga Gayewea McIntosh signed on behalf of the Liberian Government; while His Excellency Keiichi Katakami, outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Liberia signed on behalf of his Government.
According to a Foreign Ministry release, the signing of the Exchange of Notes is for the second round grant of Japan Food Aid of which the Japanese Government will donate a consignment of rice to Liberia and proceeds from the sale will be put into a “Counterpart Fund” for development purposes.
The Non-Profit Grant Aid will be used to purchase petroleum products and proceeds from monetizing these products will go towards Government’s strategic objective of expanding electricity supply especially in the rural areas, after consultations between the two sides. This is the first time Liberia is benefitting from this particular grant from Japan, made possible through Liberia’s Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Rudolph von Ballmoos.
In the case of the first grant, a follow-up to the request made by Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to the Prime Minister of Japan at the TICAD IV Summit in Yokohama, Japan in 2008, the Japanese Government responded positively by donating a consignment of about 8,000 metric tons of rice to Liberia in 2009.
Government generated US$4 million from monetizing the consignment of rice which it decided to use to buy paddy rice from local farmers in five counties over the next three years. This will provide increased income for our local farmers as well as contribute to achieving Government’s goal of self-sufficiency in rice production.
The second grant is expected to help Government cover the entire country instead of only five counties.
Speaking during the ceremony, Foreign Minister Gayewea McIntosh praised the outgoing Japanese Ambassador for being pivotal in securing both grants for Liberia, adding, “We are deeply appreciative of your efforts.”
Ambassador Katakami, for his part, hoped that these projects would foster stronger friendship between Liberia and Japan.
At the ceremony were Dr. Florence Chenoweth, Minister of Agriculture; Mrs. Miata Beysolow, Minister of Commerce & Industry; as well as the Acting Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Corporation.
In addition to signing the Exchange of Notes for about US$25 million, Ambassador Katakami is expected to sign an agreement with the Minister of Finance to cancel Liberia’s debt to Japan worth US$200 million. He will also sign and Exchange Notes with UNICEF for US$3 million for child health care in Liberia.
During his tenure, Ambassador Katakami oversaw the turning over of the US$3.6 million Japanese funded newly renovated Maternity Hospital at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center. Last year, he also signed a US$8 million Agreement with UNICEF for the construction and renovation of schools throughout Liberia. Japan recently provided US$8 million to UNDP, of which US$5 million is to support the National Elections Commission for the forthcoming elections and US$3 million for Security Sector Reform.