DUSHANBE, April 11, 2015, Asia-Plus -- On Thursday April 9, Mr. Takayuki Koike, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Tajikistan with residence in Kyrgyzstan, visited the Qumsangir district in the Khatlon province to attend a handover ceremony for “The Project for Construction of Women’s Center in Qumsangir District.”

Japan’s Embassy in Dushanbe says the Government of Japan awarded Japan’s a US$113,348 grant to the public organization “Mohi Munir” through its scheme of “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP)”.

Prior to the project implementation, the women’s center did not have its own building and was located within a regular apartment building which was not spacious enough for the center’s various activities.

Now, with the newly constructed two-story building located in the district center, the women’s center has sufficient space for carrying all its activities, including computer and sewing training courses and family consultation services offered to the women of Qumsangir and surroundings districts.  These trainings and services are provided also with the support from other domestic and international donors.

Mr. Koike during the ceremony commemorated the successful completion of the project and expressed his hope that this center will make a significant contribution to the local community.  Mr. Foteh Aminzoda, the head of the Qumsangir district, and Mrs. Ziyoda Ashourova, the chairperson of “Mohi Munir”, remarked during their speech their gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for their support that enabled the enactment of the new women’s center building.

The Government of Japan is dedicated to continuing its support and cooperation with the people of Tajikistan for creating positive impacts on various sectors throughout the country.

“Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project” (GGP) is a scheme within Japan’s Official Development Assistance.  GGP in particular implements grassroots-level projects in various sectors throughout the Republic of Tajikistan.  Recipients of GGP grants include local governments, educational and medical institutions, and NGOs.  As of today, GGP has reportedly supported 341 projects in Tajikistan, for which 27.6 million USD has been allocated since 1996.