DUSHANBE, March 10, 2016, Asia-Plus — On March 6, Mr. Takashi Kamada, Charge d’Affaires of Japan’s Embassy in Dushanbe, visited Khatlon province and attended two handover ceremonies for the projects implemented in the Khovaling district, which were funded by the Government of Japan through its “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects” (GGP) scheme. Mr. Nourullo Mirzozoda, the chairman of the Khovaling district, also attended ceremonies to commemorate the successful completion of the GGP projects.
According to Japan’s Embassy, the first handover ceremony for the “Project for Provision of Agricultural Machinery to 6 Villages in Lohuti Jamoat, Khovaling District” took place in Lohuti village of Khovaling. For the implementation of the project USD 99,468 was provided to the local government of the Khovaling district. Through this project, a set of agricultural machinery was purchased that resulted in improving the region’s agrarian sector. The new equipment, including a combine harvester, now enables the timely harvest of large quantities of crops in six villages of Lohuti jamoat, consequently reducing harvest losses.
On the same day, a handover ceremony for the “Project for Rehabilitation of irrigation canal in Sari Osiyob Jamoat, Khovaling District” was held. 118,488 U.S. dollars were provided to the local government of the Khovaling district for implementation of this project. With the successful project completion, now the irrigation canal in Sari Osiyob jamoat is fully rehabilitated and contributes to enhancing the agrarian sector and improving living condition of the local people.
Along with Mr. Kamada and Mr. Mirzozoda, the ceremonies were attended by a number of representatives from the local government of the Khovaling district as well as residents and farmers from the region. Mr. Kamada during the ceremonies remarked how the GGP projects demonstrate the friendship and cooperation between the Republic of Tajikistan and Japan. Mr. Mirzozoda expressed his gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for their continuous support in improving living conditions of people in the district.
“Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project” (GGP) is a scheme within Japan’s Official Development Assistance. GGP in particular implements grassroots-level projects in various sectors throughout the Republic of Tajikistan. Recipients of GGP grants include local governments, educational and medical institutions and NGOs. As of today, GGP has supported 346 projects in Tajikistan, for which US$ 28 million has been allocated since 1996.
