Committee Meeting for the Japanese Non-Project Grant Aid - Year 19

 

 

A Committee meeting for the Japanese Non-Project Grant Aid – Year 19, was convened on January 24, 2007.    The meeting focused on issues pertinent to the smooth implementation of Japanese Non-Project Grant Aid to Guyana this year – the 19^th for this programme in Guyana.

 

On February 17, 2006, the Exchange of Notes for the fourth (4) Japanese Non-Project Grant Aid to the tune of ¥500,000,000 (approximately US$4.2 million) was signed between the Government of Guyana and the Government of Japan.

 

The objective of this Grant is to assist the Government of Guyana in its structural adjustment efforts, and to help alleviate economic difficulties, including indebtedness.

 

The Countervalue funds accumulated for this Non-Project Grant Aid will be utilized for the improvement of electricity supply and drainage and irrigation in Guyana. A total of six (6) local firms in the private sector have been identified as the main beneficiaries/end users of this grant.

 

Under this programme, the end-users will benefit from the supply of products which have been procured through the Crown Agents in the United Kingdom.

 

Guyana has benefited, in recent years, from Japanese grant aid in the fisheries, tourism, agricultural and health sectors. The construction of the New Amsterdam Hospital and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat are also projects which have been recently funded by Japanese grant aid.

 

The Japanese Non-Project Grant Aid (NPGA) programme began in 1986, providing more than ¥450 billion (approximately US$4 billion) in assistance to about seventy countries worldwide.

Agencies represented at the meeting included Crown Agents, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation, Bank of Guyana, and the Japanese Embassy.  Also present were the beneficiary firms.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. the Hon. Henry Jeffrey, Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation.

 

Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation

January 24, 2007