DUSHANBE, June 2, 2011, Asia-Plus – A signing ceremony for the exchange of notes for the Grant Aid Project for the improvement of water supply system in Hamadoni district of Khatlon province (Phase II) between Japanese Government, represented by Mr. Yoshihiro Nakayama, Ambassador of Japan to Tajikistan, and Government of Tajikistan, represented by Mr. Hamrokhon Zarifi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan today, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tajikistan Office reports.

At the same time Grant Agreement for commencement of the Grant Aid Project for the improvement of water supply system in Hamadoni district of Khatlon province (Phase II) was signed between Government of Tajikistan, represented by Mr. Hamrokhon Zarifi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), represented by Mr. Jiro Iida, Resident Representative of JICA Tajikistan Office.

Project for the improvement of water supply system in Hamadoni district of Khatlon province (Phase II) consists of construction works in Vodokanal of Moskva town and in two villages of Mehnatobod jamoat (submersible pump facilities, high-elevated water tank, well pump control house, piping and appurtenance facilities, water distribution facilities and etc), and capacity enhancement on Operation and Maintenance of water supply facility.  This project supports the Program for improvement of safe drinking water (2007 – 2020) in Hamadoni area, and direct beneficiary of this project is estimated as more than 20,000 people.

The Project is implemented under grant aid of the Government of Japan. Japan allocated the budget of JPY 779 million (equivalent to USD 10,1 million) for implementation of the project.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) started providing technical assistance to Tajikistan in 1991, and Representative Office of JICA in Tajikistan was established in 2006.  The aggregate amount of grant aid provided by Japan is 140 million U.S. dollars, and the aggregate amount of technical assistance provided by JICA is 41 million U.S. dollars. JICA implements the following programs in Tajikistan: Program for Maternal and Child Health, Program for Water supply, Program for Disaster Prevention, Program for Poverty Reduction through Rural Development and Industry Promotion, Program for Road Improvement and Maintenance, Program for Capacity Building. Within the framework of Program for Capacity Building opportunity to make master degree in Japan is provided for 5 Tajik officials per year, and JICA also sends almost 100 Tajik officials per year for Training courses to Japan.