DUSHANBE, April 24, 2015, Asia-Plus – On Thursday April 23, Mr. Takashi Kamada, Ambassador of Japan to Tajikistan, visited the city of Norak to attend a handover ceremony for “The Project for Construction of Women’s Center in Norak City.”

According to Japan’s Embassy in Dushanbe, Japan’s Government provided a US$110,653 grant the Norak mayor’s office through the scheme of “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).”

In conjunction with Norak City, the project was implemented by a local NGO Bonu, which has been providing a variety of vocational courses, including sewing, languages, and computer, as well as legal consultation services to around 1,500 women in the region every year.  Now with the completion of the brand new independent building, Bonu can comfortably offer all its courses and services without constraints imposed by limited space.

Mr. Kamada during the ceremony congratulated Mr. Fathullo Hurmatov, Mayor of Norak City, and Ms. Faroghat Qurbonova, Director of Bonu, on the successful completion of the project.  He further remarked the importance of such facility as the women’s center that offers essential services to the people who are in need of support.  Mr. Hurmatov and Ms. Qurbonova both expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for the support that enabled the construction of the new women’s center in Norak City.

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 supported 341 projects in the Republic of Tajikistan, for which US$ 27.6 million has been allocated since 1996.