The handover and opening ceremony of Myo Daw Oo Monastic Primary School in Mawlamyaing Township, Mon State took place on November 26, 2014. This ceremony was attended by H.E. Mr. Tateshi HIGUCHI, Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar, Mr. Katsuyuki MATSUOKA, Mr. Shoichi WATANABE, Second Secretaries of the Embassy of Japan, U Thet Win Oo, Burma National Affairs Minister, Mon State, U Htay Lwin, Hluttaw Vice Speaker, Head Monk, teachers and students, committee chairman and committee members of the construction project and local residents.

At the ceremony, U Thet Win Oo, Burma National Affairs Minister stated “the Myanmar new Government has been supporting construction of new hospitals, roads and bridges. Now, they are focusing on education and health sector development. In this time, the Japanese Government and its people are supporting school constructions where Myanmar Government cannot fulfill all the needs because of financial limit.” He concluded his speech on behalf of the Mon State Government, expressed his deepest gratitude to the Japanese Government and its people.

Following that speech, Ambassador HIGUCHI stated, “This new school building is a present from the Japanese people to the school children who are future leaders of Myanmar. The Government of Japan is offering assistance to Myanmar’s education sector. We have assisted 317 projects in education sector such as school renovation and new school construction in this country. Due to high need for assistance and the importance of education, Japan will continue its assistance in this sector. We hope that students study and play vigorously in this school to be future leaders of Mon State and Myanmar. We appreciate the efforts of the construction committee, company and the people concerned for the implementation; this project would not be successful without their efforts.” He concluded the speech wishing for a long-lasting Japan-Myanmar friendly relations.

The Japanese Government provided US$ 82,021 under its Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme for the construction of the Myo Daw Oo Monastic Primary School in Mawlamyaing Township, Mon State. The Government of Japan, under its GGP Scheme, is planning to continue various assistances in the future. The Japanese Government anticipates that this assistance will further strengthen existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar, which marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

U Htay Lwin, Hluttaw Vice speaker and Ambassador HIGUCHI, during the ribbon cut ceremony in front of new school building	Speech by H.E. Mr. Tateshi HIGUCHI, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar	Talk to students in new classroom	Interviewed by TV program