KIGALI - Japan has pledged to continue supporting Rwanda’s reconstruction efforts and achieve her developmental goals.

Speaking to The New Times, yesterday, Mitsuyoshi Yanagisawa, a Member of Parliament from Japan and a member of Official Development Assistance (ODA) of Japan House of Councilors, through his translator, said that Japan is "determined to do as much as possible to help Rwanda to overcome the tragic history.”

Yanagisawa, who commended Rwanda for her tremendous success over the past 16 years, heads  a three-member delegation of MPs from the Japan House of Councilors who are on a three-day visit to Rwanda on ODA Oversees Research Mission.

The mission report is submitted to the Japanese Parliament.
Japan’s interventions is mainly in the areas of education, agriculture and water and sanitation.  It is also a ‘silent’ donor in energy, transportation and ICT sectors.
Last year, Japan’s donation and grants given to Rwanda totaled to $21 million.

"The important thing is to promote the capacity of Rwanda through capacity building projects,” Yanagisawa noted.

"We will continue supporting Rwanda in infrastructure, buses (transport) and providing financial assistance.”
The MPs also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, where they laid a wreath in honour of the over 250,000 victims buried there, before visiting Japan rural funded projects in the Eastern Province.

The MPs were also accompanied by the Japan Ambassador to Rwanda, Kunio Hatanaka.

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