Arab News Japan

AMMAN: The government of Japan has decided to extend budgetary support of ¥15 billion, equivalent to around $100 million, to the government of Jordan toward their reform program.

The concessional loan, under the Economic Modernization Vision, is entitled ‘Electricity Sector Reform and Resilience Enhancement Program Loan (Phase II)’.

On Sunday, HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Japan’s Foreign Minister, and HE Ms Zeina Toukan, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation signed documents in the presence of HE Mr Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Amman.

HAYASHI and Ms. Toukan also signed and exchanged notes for a grant aid of ¥897 million Japanese, equivalent to around $6 million, for “The Project for Strengthening Capacity of Power System Operation”.

The new grant aid aims to enhance power system operation through the replacement of existing old protection relays with high performance digital protection relays in core substations, thereby providing a stable and reliable electricity supply in Jordan.

Additionally, they addressed the immigration crisis in Syria and Palestine and committed to making international efforts to resolve it peacefully. 

When discussing Fukushima, HAYASHI told Safadi that Japan will continue to work alongside the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to make sure that the plan is consistent with international safety standards. 

HAYASHI will be visiting Egypt on the 5th to take part in the Trilateral Ministerial-Level Talks and the Third Japan-Arab Political Dialogue to exchange views on Japan-Arab cooperation. On the 7th, he will take part in the first Japan-Gulf Cooperation Council Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and meet his Saudi counterpart in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.