Japan Ambassador to Myanmar H.E. Mr. Tateshi HIGUCHI and Chairpersons of the various construction committees from the States and Regions concerned signed the grant contracts for four projects today. Under these contracts, Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme will provide a total of US$532,304 as follows:

• The Project for Construction of Kone Ma Hat Village Bridge in Bamaw Township, Kachin State (USD 121,957)
• The Project for Construction of Aung Pan Myaing Monastic Primary School in Nyaungdon Township, Ayeyarwady Region (USD 97,764)
• The Project for Construction of Pwintaut Village Basic Education Post Primary School in Sidoktaya Township, Magway Region (USD 111,714) and 4. The Project for Extension of Township Hospital and Upgrading of Medical Facilities in Rathedaung Township, Rakhine State (USD 200,869).

The grant contract signing for 3. Pwintaut Village Basic Education Post Primary School is to assist the one out of 493 flood affected schools requested by the Myanmar Government to the Japanese Government for the reconstruction and rehabilitation.

The wooden poles and beams of the existing bridge in Kone Ma Hat village has been gradually deteriorated and it is difficult for heavy trucks to cross the bridge. As a consequence, the villagers from the 3 surrounding villages cannot carry and transport their agricultural products to the Bamaw town. In order to address this challenge, the Japanese Government will support construction of a 60-feet-long, 14-feet-wide Reinforced Concrete Construction (R.C.C) bridge with approach road. The project will benefit 26,249 residents from 10 surrounding villages.

In Aung Pan Myaing Monastic Primary School, the students have to study in congested classrooms in the existing hall-type-building since the other temporary building was completely collapsed due to the cyclone occurred in August, 2015. In order to tackle this challenge, the Japanese Government will support constrution of a one-storey R.C.C building with 5 classrooms, full furniture and walkway. The project will benefit 120 students and 9 teachers of the school.

The existing school building built in 1982 in Pwintaut village was completely submerged by the flood occurred in August, 2015. Moreover, the whole village had been relocated to a higher ground and the students are studying in a monastic building since there is no school building in the new school compound. To solve this issue, the Japanese Government will support construction of a two-storey R.C.C building with 6 classrooms, full furniture, walkway and lavatories. The project will benefit 63 students and 8 teachers of the school.

The patient ward of Rathedaung Township Hospital has been crowded with in-patients as residents of the whole town and nearby villages are relying on the Hospital for medical services. There is not enough space to accommodate further patients who need medical care. The medical facilities have been used for more than 20 years, specifically the operation table is not able to adjust properly due to its aged and rusted condition. For this solution, the Japanese Government will support construction of a one-storey R.C.C 24-bedded patient ward, lavatories and 14 items of medical equipment. The project will benefit 168,400 residents of the town and villages.

The Government of Japan has assisted 783 various grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993: the number consisting of 373 education projects, 197 healthcare projects, 138 public welfare and environment projects, 40 infrastructure projects and 35 other projects. It is anticipated that these assistances will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.