Yemeni-Japanese relations for the better [Archives:2002/37/Local News]

Two agreements were signed last Saturday at the Ministry of Planning and Development in Sanaa between the governments of Japan and Yemen in the presence of H.E. Mr. Seiken Sugiura, Japanese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, who arrived last Saturday in Sana’a for a 3-day visit to the Republic of Yemen to conduct talks with Yemeni political and economic officials to enhance the relations between the two countries. The two agreements were signed by the Yemeni Minister of Planning and Development H.E. Mr. Ahmed Sofan and the Japanese Ambassador to Yemen, H.E. Mr. Masamitsu Oki.
The first agreement concerns the third Japanese Debt Relief Grant extended to Yemen during this year which amounts up to more than 145 million yen (approximately one million two hundred thirty thousand USD), based on the resolution made by the Trade and Development Board of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to adopt debt relief measures for countries which have been facing serious difficulties in servicing their depts. Such grants are to be used in consultation with the government of Japan, to purchase products that contribute to the development of Yemen’s economy and the enhancement of the welfare of its people.
Since 1979, when Yemen started repaying its yen loans that had financed a number of projects, Japan has been providing the Republic of Yemen with grants in totaling an amount equal to the total interest and principal repaid. In the past five years, Japan extended to Yemen debt relief grants amounting to approximately 8.5 billion yen, i.e. equivalent to approximately 72 million USD.
The second agreement concerns a cultural grant amounting up to 42.6 million yen (approximately three hundred sixty thousand USD) to contribute to the promotion of educational activities through the supply of equipment for producing educational TV programs to the Educational Aid Production Center of the Ministry of Education.
It is worth mentioning that Japan provided Yemen with cultural aid in the past for several establishments such as Sana’a University, the General Authority for Historic Cities’ Preservation, the Cultural Center in Sana’a and the national TV Station.

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