DUSHANBE, January 28, Asia-Plus -- The Signing Ceremony of Exchange of Notes concerning the Project for Rehabilitation of Drinking Water Supply Systems in Panj district of Khatlon province between Japan’s Government, represented by Mr. Hiroyuki Imahashi – Ambassador, Embassy of Japan in Dushanbe and Government of Tajikistan, represented by Mr. Sirodjiddin Aslov – Minister for Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan on January 28.

According to press release issued by JICA Tajikistan Office, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Aslov and Resident Representative of JICA Tajikistan Office Kazuya Sueta signed the Grant Agreement for commencement of detailed design for the mentioned project on the same day.  

The Government of Japan will extend a grant of 42 million Japanese Yen (equivalent to some 420,000 USD) for the purpose of contributing to the implementation of the detailed design of the Project for Rehabilitation of Drinking Water Supply Systems in Panj district of Khatlon province. The project will be implemented in the administrative center of the district (Panj Township) and three adjacent villages (vil. Shakhmat, vil. Imon Mashrabov, vil. Kh. Sherov), as well as in 3 villages located in northern part of the district administrative center (vil. Sarmantoy 1, vil. Sarmantoy 2, vil. Turdishaikh). The estimated direct beneficiary of this project is around 29,000 people.

It must be mentioned that JICA has recently completed the Grant Aid Project for the improvement of drinking water supply in the Hamadoni district of Khatlon province to the amount of JPY 955 million for Phase I and JPY 779 million for Phase II.  The Project included provision of equipment, construction of 3 boreholes and technical support to the team, as well as construction works in Vodokanal of Moskva Township and in two villages of Mehnatobod Jamoat, and capacity enhancement on Operation and Maintenance of water supply facility.  Direct beneficiary of this project is estimated at more than 20,000 people.

JICA began its cooperation with Tajikistan in 1993 by offering 21 seats for officials in Tajikistan to study in Japan.  Total number of participants in training Tajik officials in Japan covers around 1400 people from early 1993 until April 2012.  JICA opened its office in Dushanbe in 2006.  JICA implements the following programs in Tajikistan: a program for the protection of mother and child health; water supply program; the program on poverty reduction through rural development; program to improve the roads and their maintenance; and capacity building program.

The aggregate amount of grant aid provision is 214.34 million USD as of 2011, and the total amount of the provision of technical assistance is 55.6 million USD as of 2011 by JICA to Tajikistan.