H.E. Mr. Tateshi HIGUCHI, Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar, and Chairpersons of the Construction Committees from Magway and Ayeyarwaddy Regions signed the grant contracts for three projects today. Under these contracts, Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme will provide a total of US$ 398,795 as follows:

1. The Project for Construction of Par Yaik Basic Education Branch Middle School in Wakema Township, Ayeyarwady Region (USD 120,663);
2. The Project for Upgrading of Sat Su Wa Village Access Road in Aunglan Township, Magway Region (USD 145,870); and
3. The Project for Upgrading of Kayin San Village Access Road in Aunglan Township, Magway Region (USD 132,262).

Due to the insufficient number of classrooms, Par Yaik Basic Education Branch Middle School built a temporary school building. However, still more than 70 students have to study in congested classrooms of the building. In order to provide a proper learning environment for students, the Japanese Government will support construction of a two-storey Reinforced Concrete Construction (R.C.C.) building with 8 classrooms with full furniture. The project will benefit 491 students of the school.

As the current road becomes muddy during the rainy season, the residents in Sat Su Wa Village have been struggling to transport their agricultural products and transfer patients to a hospital. The students walk 4 hours to attend the high school, which is located 6km away from Sat Su Wa Village. Consequently, half of middle-school students give up going on to the high school. In order to tackle these challenges, the Japanese Government will support upgrading of the 4.8 kilometer - long road with 2 culverts. The project will benefit 1,688 local residents.

The current road is located in Kayin San Village and connects to the highway to the nearest town. Using this road, the villagers are transporting their agricultural products, transferring patients to hospital and sending students to the high school in town. However, during the rainy season, the road becomes muddy and some emergency patients died due to the late treatment. In order to tackle these issues, the Japanese Government will support upgrading of the 4.3 kilometer - long road with 1 culvert. The project will benefit 3,524 local residents.

The Government of Japan has assisted 805 various grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993: the number consists of 393 education projects, 198 healthcare projects, 138 public welfare and environment projects, 41 infrastructure projects and 35 other projects. It is anticipated that these assistances will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.