The government of Japan has always been Rwanda’s friend and continues to support the latter both economically and politically, Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary (PS) Jeanine Kambanda, has said.

Amb. Kambanda was on Tuesday speaking at the eleventh annual policy dialogue on the Japanese Official Development Assistance (Oda) to Rwanda.

The PS told reporters that Japan and Rwanda particularly enjoyed reciprocal support during the time the latter has been a member of the UN Security Council (2013-2014).

"The Japanese government understands our development agenda and gets involved. That’s why their assistance is gradually increasing, be it in TVET [Technical and Vocational Education and Training] as in the case of Tumba College of Technology; the Rusumo One Border Post; electricity rollout; and other micro development projects that seek to advance the welfare of our citizens,” Amb. Kambanda said.

The Rulindo District-based Tumba College of Technology counts the Japan International Cooperation Agency among its major partners.

Amb. Kazuya Ogawa, the Japanese envoy to Rwanda, said his country is ever ready to support Rwanda.

"Rwanda became a green country, from orange, in terms of the debt sustainability analysis (DSA) by IMF and World Bank last year,” Ogawa said.

"It means that Rwanda is eligible for Japanese loans given with support from the African Development Bank.”

Tatsuya Oniki, the coordinator for economic cooperation at the Embassy of Japan in Kigali, said Oda disbursements to Rwanda have continued to increase ever since 2008.

Net disbursements, including grant aid and technical cooperation, were $17.75 million in 2008, $21.34 million in 2009, $22.82 million in 2010, $24.28 million in 2011, and $32.79 million in 2012.

Priority areas

Four priority areas of Japan’s support to Rwanda are economic infrastructure development; promotion of market oriented and value added agriculture; assistance in water and sanitation including development of operation and maintenance systems, and particularly targeting Eastern Province where the coverage of water supply is the lowest in the country; as well as science and technology education and training.

To contribute to sustainable economic growth in landlocked Rwanda, Japan supports economic infrastructure development from the perspective of regional integration within the East African Community and the development of international corridors.

Japan supports the extension and rehabilitation of electricity facilities as well as rehabilitation and construction of main roads, bridges and a One Stop Border Post facility (a customs house), among others.

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