Japan extends further support to education sector in Yemen [Archives:2003/692/Business & Economy]

Sanaa – An agreement to execute the project for Supplying School Textbook Printing Equipment was signed today at the Ministry of Planning & International Cooperation between H.E. Mr. Ahmed Sofan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning & International Cooperation and Mr. Yuichi Ishii, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Yemen.
In accordance with this agreement, the Government of Japan will extend a grant up to five and a half million US Dollars ($ 5,500,000) to supply the School TextBook General Corporation with modern printing equipment for its branch in Mukalla.
With regard to Japanese cooperation in the field of education, it is worthwhile mentioning that Japan extended two grants amounting up to eleven million nine hundred thousand US Dollars ($ 11,900,000) in November 2002 and May 2003, to construct 30 schools for basic education in Taiz and Ibb Governorates.
Those have been aimed at supporting the efforts of the Yemeni Government, which has been committed to put more focus on the Strategy Paper and the National Basic Education Strategy.
These grants will play an important role in reducing the high illiteracy rate and increasing the percentage of enrollment in the schools. Education is a basis for promoting human development, which is a central concept of Japan's development assistance.
Japan, therefore, has decided to extend such grants in order to help the Yemeni Government move forward human development so that it can achieve sustainable social development.
——
[archive-e:692-v:13-y:2003-d:2003-12-08-p:b&e]