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The government of Japan will provide technical cooperation to Bhutan in farm road bridge design, strengthening local governance and developing a solid waste management programme, according to officials of the gross national happiness (GNH) commission.
“We had put in five proposals in 2009 under technical cooperation and three have been approved,” GNH secretary Karma Tshiteem said.
GNH officials learnt of these developments yesterday during the sixth ODA/JICA seminar in Thimphu. The seminar is held annually so that recipient countries are updated and fully understand the donor country’s systems and are in a better position to access opportunities. The seminar also provides information on the status of government proposals.
Bhutan had made five proposals under grant aid (projects worth more than USD 2M), of which one has been approved. “Japan has agreed to the replacement of ambulances, which is the priority of the ruling government,” the GNH secretary said.
The proposal for the KR II grant for 2010 was not approved, but this did not mean that the door had been closed, said the GNH secretary. “The government will be resubmitting the proposal, given its importance,” said Karma Tshiteem. “Besides, we’re still getting support under the KR II grant.” The KR II grant supports underprivileged farmers and strengthening farm mechanisation.
The seminar also shared with government officials other possibilities of assistance, such as enhanced access to ODA (official development assistance) loans. For least developed countries like Bhutan, ODA loans are available at a very low rate of interest, under one percent, and repayment periods are very long.
According to GNH officials, Bhutan has already availed one such loan for the rural electrification project. “Given our priorities, we might have to take another to complete the rural electrification project, and another one to fund rural credit,” Karma Tshiteem said.
JICA’s director for South Asia division 1, Hara Shohei, said that the ODA budget has a limitation and cannot focus on all the proposals put forward, but proposals accepted were in line with the government’s priority like helping the eastern region. “I hope we can do something for the people living in underdeveloped places,” he said.
On rural electrification, Hara Shohei said that about three billion Japanese yen would be considered, and discussions had started with department of energy, as well as Bhutan power supply. “Our consultants will carry out a preparatory survey from this month, which will be completed by the end of October this year, and I hope we’ll be able to conclude the loan agreement by end of next March, so that actual distribution and transmission lines in the rural area can be started early by next year, and also meet national target of 100 percent electrification in the rural areas by 2013.”
Hara Shohei said that the relationship between Bhutan and JICA is deep and widespread, which signifies good outcome.
Source: Kuenselonline
“We had put in five proposals in 2009 under technical cooperation and three have been approved,” GNH secretary Karma Tshiteem said.
GNH officials learnt of these developments yesterday during the sixth ODA/JICA seminar in Thimphu. The seminar is held annually so that recipient countries are updated and fully understand the donor country’s systems and are in a better position to access opportunities. The seminar also provides information on the status of government proposals.
Bhutan had made five proposals under grant aid (projects worth more than USD 2M), of which one has been approved. “Japan has agreed to the replacement of ambulances, which is the priority of the ruling government,” the GNH secretary said.
The proposal for the KR II grant for 2010 was not approved, but this did not mean that the door had been closed, said the GNH secretary. “The government will be resubmitting the proposal, given its importance,” said Karma Tshiteem. “Besides, we’re still getting support under the KR II grant.” The KR II grant supports underprivileged farmers and strengthening farm mechanisation.
The seminar also shared with government officials other possibilities of assistance, such as enhanced access to ODA (official development assistance) loans. For least developed countries like Bhutan, ODA loans are available at a very low rate of interest, under one percent, and repayment periods are very long.
According to GNH officials, Bhutan has already availed one such loan for the rural electrification project. “Given our priorities, we might have to take another to complete the rural electrification project, and another one to fund rural credit,” Karma Tshiteem said.
JICA’s director for South Asia division 1, Hara Shohei, said that the ODA budget has a limitation and cannot focus on all the proposals put forward, but proposals accepted were in line with the government’s priority like helping the eastern region. “I hope we can do something for the people living in underdeveloped places,” he said.
On rural electrification, Hara Shohei said that about three billion Japanese yen would be considered, and discussions had started with department of energy, as well as Bhutan power supply. “Our consultants will carry out a preparatory survey from this month, which will be completed by the end of October this year, and I hope we’ll be able to conclude the loan agreement by end of next March, so that actual distribution and transmission lines in the rural area can be started early by next year, and also meet national target of 100 percent electrification in the rural areas by 2013.”
Hara Shohei said that the relationship between Bhutan and JICA is deep and widespread, which signifies good outcome.
Source: Kuenselonline
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