Japan’s Non-Project Grant Aid Equipment Handover in Nuku‘alofa ^Featured

 A handover ceremony was attended by H.E Mr. Yukio Numata, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Tonga and Hon. Semisi Fakahau, Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries held at the MAFFF headquarter in Nuku‘alofa.

Present also at the handover ceremony were Dr. Siale ‘Akau’ola, CEO of the Ministry of Health, Ms. Rosamond Bing, CEO of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Dr. Viliami Toalei Manu CEO of the MAFFF and Ms. Ana Bing Fonua, CEO of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In the keynote address by H.E. Ambassador Numata, he acknowledged the continuous collaboration from both Governments’ committing to equip ministries with necessary equipment to advance service for the people of Tonga.

The Ambassador was pleased that the handover included a High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries. He said this equipment will support Government’s effort to guarantee food safety and quality diet for the people in accordance with the National Food Act.

“It can also help improve the health status of the population, especially combatting non-communicable deceases by providing people with firsthand knowledge of the food they will consume,” added the Ambassador. The HPLC machine alone worth 22 million Japanese yen, equivalent to 0.45 million pa’anga, and is the first of its kind to be donated to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Hon. Semisi Fakahau, in his acceptance speech at the ceremony emphasized that these key equipment and instruments will definitely help improve the services provided by the ministries to the people of Tonga.

“On behalf of the Government and the people of Tonga, I am deeply honoured to accept these very needed equipment and instruments donated by the Government of Japan to the Health sector to support and improve the health of our people, the Land and Natural Resources sector to support the protection and conservation of the country’s natural environment and sustainable development and management of natural renewable resources, and the Agriculture and
Food sector to ensure food security good health of the population and creation of a driver for sustainable economic growth.”

“I thank you, the people and Government of Japan for your generosity in providing these invaluable assistance when, and to where it is most needed,” stated Minister Fakahau Tonga’s Ministry of Health received also under the NPGA medical equipment consecutively for two years and disaster relief items, including first aid kits.

The major part of the equipment handed over were two Endoscope System valued at 47million Japanese Yen or 0.95 million pa’anga. Dr. Siale ‘Akauola expressed that NPGA donations are very useful and that the quality of the equipment received by the Ministry of Health, speaks for itself.

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources were handed over three High Pressure Washer following the handover of excavators and wheel loaders under the NPGA programs in October 2015.

Ms. Rosamond Bing acknowledged the technical assistance from the Government of Japan to support the Ministry’s mandates – coastal management and protection. She too expressed that the Ministry is better equipment with the appropriate means and confident that the machinery are being put to good use.

Japan’s NPGA was introduced as a form of commodity aid to promote economic and social development of recipient countries.

The NPGA donated for Tonga from 2013 to 2015 worth 700 million Japanese Yen equivalent to 14 million pa’anga and it is expected to support Governments efforts to implement its Strategic Development Framework, and contribute to the betterment of welfare of the people of the Kingdom of Tonga. More NPGA equipment is expected to arrive Nuku’alofa in July for the Tonga’s National Emergency Management Office, NEMO.