The hand-over and opening ceremony of four bridges in Hlaingbwe Township, Kayin State which was constructed under the Japanese Government’s Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Project (GGP) Scheme was held on June 22, 2013. In the region, military conflicts have continued in the past decades, and many people have fled to Thailand and other regions within the country.

H.E. Mr. Mikio NUMATA, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, H.E. U Kyaw Lwin, Union Minister for Construction, H.E. U Zaw Min, Chief Minister of Kayin State and members of Hlaingbwe Township Road and Bridge Supervision Committee together with local people attended the ceremony.

Ambassador Numata said in his remark that Japan has been providing assistance proactively for Myanmar’s democratization, measures to ethnic minority and national reconciliation, and that he is very pleased with the completion of the significant reinforced concrete bridges constructed by Public Works under the Ministry of Construction. The Ambassador also mentioned that the bridges are funded by Japanese people’s tax money and that he hopes the Myanmar people will remember the friendly relationship between Japan and Myanmar reflected on these bridges.

A resident of the nearby village who attended the ceremony said, “Many young villagers in this area have fled to Thailand to avoid recruitment as a porter for the armed groups in the past years. Since there will be the industrial zone near Hpa-an connected by the bridge, I hope they will come back to work in this township.”

The government of Japan provided the fund US$ 632,466 for construction of four reinforced concrete bridges. The Government of Japan, under its Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme, will continue to assist Myanmar in future as well. As for the Japanese Government, it is expected that this assistance will further strengthen existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.