1. Today, Japan signed 11 Exchange of Notes (US $215 million), including the 4 E/Ns with UN agencies, for grant assistance towards Myanmar. With these E/Ns, Japan’s grant assistance to Myanmar for 2012 amounts to approximately $273 million in total. This amount exceeds the total grants of the past few years.

2. The signing ceremony for 7 projects took place between H.E. Mr. Mikio Numata, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and H.E. Dr. Khin San Yee, Deputy Minister for National Planning and Economic Development (NPED) of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar at NPED in Nay Pyi Taw in the afternoon on 22 March 2013. Approximately US$165 million will be provided for the following 7 projects for improvement of people’s livelihoods and development of infrastructure and related systems necessary for sustainable economic development of Myanmar.
(1) The Project for Strengthening Human Development Institutions in Agriculture for Yezin Agriculture University (1billion JPY (approximately US$10.6 million))
(2) The Project for Improvement of Medical Equipment in Hospitals in Yangon and Mandalay (1.14 billion JPY(approximately US$ 12million))
(3) The Project for Establishment of Disastrous Weather Monitoring System in Yangon, Kyauk Phyu and Mandalay (3.8 billion JPY (approximately US$ 40.4 million))
(4) The Project for Improvement of Nationwide Airport Safety and Security in Yangon, Mandalay, Nyaung U, Heho, TadaU and Dawei (1.2 billion JPY(approximately US$ 12.9 million))
(5) The Project for Rehabilitation of Baluchaung No.2 Hydropower Plant (6.6 billion JPY (approximately US$ 70.2 million ))
(6) The Project for Upgrading Ferryboat in Yangon City (1.16 billion JPY (approximately US$ 12.3 million ))
(7) The Project for Provision of Road Construction and Maintenance Equipment in Kayin State (759 million JPY (approximately US$ 8 million)

3. The signing ceremony for 4 projects took place between H.E. Mr. Mikio Numata, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and Mr. Srinivasa Popuri, Senior Human Settlements Officer, UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific-Fukuoka; Mr. Toily Kurbanov, Country Director, UNDP Myanmar; Mr. Ayaki Ito, Deputy Representative, UNHCR Myanmar and Mr. Carlos Veloso, Country Director and Representative, WFP Myanmar, at the Ministry of Border Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw in the morning on 22 March, 2013. Approximately US$50 million will be provided through UN agencies (WFP, UNHABITAT, UNDP, and UNHCR) for assistance towards IDPs in minority areas for the following 4 projects. This grant will be used to develop and promote industry and provide communities and livelihoods for the returning IDPs and refugees.
(1) The Programme for Development and Rehabilitation of Community in Ethnic Minority Areas in Kachin, Shan and Chin States through UN-HABITAT (700 million JPY (approximately US$ 7.36 million))
(2) The Programme for Strengthening Local Governance Capacity, Livelihoods and Social Cohesion in Ethnic Minority Areas in Rakhine, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Shan and Chin States through UNDP (1.3 billion JPY (approximately US$ 13.7 million))
(3) The Project of Food Aid in Ethnic Areas through WFP in Rakhine, Kachin, Kayin, Kayah, Mon and Shan States and Tanintharyi Region (2,000 million JPY (approximately US$ 21 million ))
(4) The Programme for Assistance to Displaced Persons in Ethnic Minority Areas in Rakhine, Chin, Kachin, Shan, Kayah, Kayin and Mon States through UNHCR (651 million JPY (approximately US$ 6.9 million))

4. It is expected that these projects will contribute to the improvement of people’s livelihoods and development of sustainable economic development of Myanmar as well as the improvement of the situation of IDPs in minority areas. It is our hope that these grant assistance will contribute to further promoting existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.