Japan backs UXO clearance, human resource development
The government of Japan has granted more than 110 billion kip (over US$14 million) for projects in the area of unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance and human resource development for the fiscal year 2012-2013.
Mr Houmphanh Soukprasith ( right ) shakes hands with Mr Masato Togawa after the signing ceremony.
An agreement for the grant aid was signed in Vientiane yesterday between the Lao and Japanese governments, represented by Acting Director General of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Planning and Investment Mr Houmphanh Soukprasith and Chief Representative of JICA Laos Office Mr Masato Togawa.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Mr Somchith Inthamith.
Of the grant aid, more than 80 billion kip (US$11.2 million) will go towards the purchase of Japanese made specialised equipment, motor vehicles and computers, which will be invaluable in reducing UXO contamination as well as clearing farmland in rural areas to improve villagers' livelihoods. The remaining more than 20 billion kip (US$3 million) will be used for human resource development, Mr Houmphanh said.
He added that the government of Japan has been contributing to UXO clearance since 1999 through various channels, including direct contributions, Japanese non-government organisations and the Japan-Asean Integration Fund, to the Lao National UXO programme. These contributions have amounted to more than 200 billion kip to date.
The Human Resource Development Scholarships for Master's Degree (JDS) programme was established in 2008 by the Lao government with the assistance of the government of Japan.
Mr Houmphanh explained that the main objective of this programme is to support the government in its efforts to facilitate its own plans for human resource development mainly for capacity and institutional building. In particular it allows young Lao government officials to study at higher education institutions and universities in Japan in fields such as law, public policy and administration, economics, public finance, agriculture and rural development, education and engineering.
Through this programme many Lao students have played an important role in their specialties and become leaders in their field, with many promoted to high positions in several public sectors, he said.
Japanese grant aid for Human Resource Development Scholarships has greatly contributed to the effort of the Lao government in terms of the development of intellectual human resources over the last decade, said Mr Togawa.
He added that 213 people had already graduated and returned home and 42 JDS participants are currently studying for master's degrees in Japan.
This Japanese fiscal year 2012-2013, 19 government officials, who have been admitted as the 13th batch of JDS participants, will go to Japan this coming August. The grant agreement of more than 20 billion kip (US$3 million) will be used to support the government officials' study during their master's degree in Japan, Mr Togawa explained.
He said UXO clearance remains one of the most challenging tasks facing the Lao government as it strives to meet its obligations under the international convention on cluster munitions.
The Lao government has announced the reduction of UXO as an additional Millennium Development Goal. In response to this initiative, the Japanese government had decided to support this sector to help Laos rid itself of these dreadful hazards which scar the land and threaten the lives of thousands, Mr Togawa added.
