Japan gifts $1.8m heavy machinery for cyclone reconstruction [1]
Friday, October 2, 2015 - 16:22. Updated on Friday, October 2, 2015 - 16:27.
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A gift of industrial machinery, including excavators worth $1.8 million pa’anga, was handed over by Japan to assist Tonga with reconstruction after Tropical Cyclone Ian and to help strengthen its resilience to climate change.
The Japanese Ambassador HE Mr Yukio Numata handed over the aggregate mining machines, which included three excavators and three wheel loads, to Lord Ma’afu the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources on Thursday, 1 October at Vaololoa.
The machines are the first batch of Japan's Non-Project Grant Aid for Provision of Industrial Products manufactured in the Tohoku Region on the eastern part of Japan that was devastated by the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
The Ambassador said through mutual understanding and shared experience, Japan aimed to encourage Tonga’s reconstruction after the destruction caused by Cyclone Ian in 2014.
“We hope this provision of efficient and user friendly machines will help accelerate the Kingdom’s social and economic development for a further embedded in sustainability.”
Taaniela Kula, a Deputy Secretary for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, said the Ministry was mandated to identify aggregate supply for construction development and the sustainable management of this scarce resource to ensure development in harmony with the environment.
“It is gratifying that this grant will aid in the solution towards the state of erosion and inundation of our coastal communities," he said.
Taaniela in thanking Japan said the Japanese people had yet again shone their rising sun on the Ministry. The Seismic Monitoring Centre of Tonga valued at US$1 million was grant assistance from Japan in 2003, he said.
In 2014, the Governments of Japan and Tonga signed and exchanged notes formalising an assistance of a total grant of $3.6 million pa'anga, in which this donation is made under. The final patch of products will made later this year to the Ministry of Heatlh and Ministry of Agriculture, Good, Forestry and Fisheries.