Japanese aid package funding three JICA projects
Three projects funded by part of a recently announced US$7.7 billion Japanese aid package are under way, according to the Japanese International Cooperation Institute. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced earlier this month that his country would provide 800 billion yen in aid, loans and investment to promote development and reconciliation in Myanmar. It is not clear how much of the $7.7 billion, to be spread over five years, will consist of ODA loans, but JICA will manage the majority of the ODA component, said Keiichiro Nakazawa, the agency’s chief representative in Myanmar. JICA has not yet decided on all the projects it will fund through the ODA section, but so far this year work has begun on three projects – a bridge and two water supply projects – that will financed by the $7.7 billion package, he said. The bridge will connect Yangon and Thanlyin over the Bago River. JICA will manage the project, which will have a budget of $280 million, said Mr Nakazawa during a media tour last week.
