NEW DELHI: Speaking at the ‘Natural Allies in Development and Interdependence’ conclave Mitsunori Saito, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in India, highlighted the importance of India-Japan’s coordinated efforts for the development of the northeast region of India.
Currently, the development projects worth Rs 19,000 crores, receiving financial and technical assistance from JICA, are being implemented in the northeastern states of India. Other than infrastructure development projects, JICA is also assisting with the social development projects with a primary focus on medical infrastructure and improving the standard of living in the region.
Mitsunori Saito, in his address at the ‘Natural Allies in Development and Interdependence’ conclave said, “official development assistance (ODA) of approximately 314 billion yen (over Rs 19,100 crores) has been made in on-going projects in the North-Eastern region by the JICA”.
Earlier in March, JICA signed an agreement with the Government of India to strengthen and upgrade the health system of Assam. For the project, an aid of Rs 2,942 crores will be provided as ODA by JICA.
According to the officials, JICA is also looking to help in the management of the natural resources of the region. Assistance is being provided for the improvement of 14 regional care hospitals, the development of roads and connectivity projects in Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura, and for the hydroelectric power projects in Meghalaya. Additionally, the support is also extended for forest management and technical cooperation in the agriculture and irrigation sector of Mizoram.
Mitsunori Saito also mentioned that it is essential to utilise the full potential of intra-regional trade and to increase the volume of trade between India and the South Asian countries in general and Bangladesh in particular via northeast India, which will lead to the inclusive development of the entire region. He pledged the support of JICA for the overall capacity building of the people in the region through the transfer of technology and training.