Nuku’alofa, 18 August 2022 (TDI): Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Tonga, Munenaga Kensaku attended the opening ceremony of the “WASH” (water supply and sanitation) project.
Japan in collaboration with the Republic of Tonga supported the WASH project as a donor to enhance the provision of freshwater around the globe.
宗永大使は、#WASH（給水・衛生）プロジェクトの開始式で、#トンガ で同分野を長年支援してきたドナー国としてスピーチを行いました🇹🇴🇯🇵日本は1993年より、トンガ最北端の離島ニウアスを含む全国で、100基を超える給水システムの整備を実施してきました😊@jica_direct pic.twitter.com/FyOaArBZYI
— 在トンガ日本大使館 (@japanintonga) August 18, 2022
Moreover, through this project WASH have installed more than 100 water supply system nationwide including on the remote Island of Niuas.
Japan has been working in Tonga and other poor countries lacking fresh water since 1993 through the projects like WASH.
Grant Aid Projects with Japan
The Ambassador and Prime Minister of Tonga Hon. Hu’akavameiliku on 12 August signed three Grant Aids at the Fa’onelua Convention Center.
These three grant aids include Non-project Grant Aids (NPGA) received by Water Authority Limited and NPGA received by Tonga Water Board. While the third one was the Nation Wide Early Warning System (NEWS) project under General Grant Aid (CGA).
Furthermore, these three grant project is worth more than $7 million US dollar to enhance Freshwater Technology and the empowerment of human health in these countries.
Moreover, the Ambassador said on the occasion, “I believe today’s assistance is quite relevant and useful, not only for the recovery from the disaster but also for the future development of Tonga”.
Funds restricted by Covid-19:
These projects aim to improve the capacity of risk management and strengthen resilience against disaster through an improved domestic telecommunication system.
Currently, 30 Japanese technicians are operating for the NEWS project to complete by this September.
Furthermore, the fund was approved in April 2021, the total amount is now about 3.3 billion Japanese Yuan or 25 million USD.
The government suspended the project for a long time. While the Grant of 25 million USD was the second grant approved after the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the operations for the project didn’t suspend permanently.
