TIRANA, June 1 /ATA/ On May 31 2022, a new Backhoe Loaderfunded by Japan’s Grant scheme “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects”(GGP)was handed over to Kruja Municipality.With the new vehicle, provided by the Grant amounting to EUR 72,814, the Municipality will be able to remove building debris and to clean up the sites where there will be demolition works more efficiently. The Municipality can also use this vehicle for other tasks as well such as construction, light transportation of building materials, digging holes/excavation, landscaping, breaking asphalt, and paving roads.
This is the third cooperation between the Government of Japan and Kruja. On December 2020, a grant was provided to Kruja Regional Hospital “Dr. Stefan Gjoni” for the provision of one new ambulance and two sets of emergency medical equipment with the aim to improve the emergency healthcare service of the Region. The following grant was the provision of a new Fire Truck for Kruja Municipality’s Fire Department on October 2021, with the aim to improve the effectiveness of the Municipality through the strengthening of the lifesaving abilities in case of fires and the historical heritage protection system.
On this occasion, the Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mr. TAKADA Mitsuyuki,reaffirmed Japan’s firm commitment to support Albanian people from human security perspective as well as the importance of implementing socioeconomic development projects that will lead to the improvement of the living conditions in the Municipality.On the other hand, Mayor of Kruja, Mr. Artur BUSHI, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Government of Japan and Ambassador TAKADA for their support, underlining the Grant’s importance to the Municipality and its citizens.
Japan being an earthquake country itself has a vast expertise in the disaster prevention field, whichhas used to help other countries. In response to the 2019 earthquake disaster in Albania,Japan pledged EUR 2.5 million at the Donors’ Conference, out of which EUR 223,000 are grants and the remaining are in-kind contributions. The Government of Japan through JICA provided emergency assistance in the form of emergency relief goods consisting of 280 tents and 560 sleeping pads for the families affected by the earthquake. Additionally, the Director of Civil Emergencies of Tirana Municipality in 2020 was provided training regarding disaster prevention. Japan’s commitment in assisting Albania especially during its difficult times such as the 2019 earthquake has been in the forefront of foreign countries.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of friendly relations between Japan and Albania as well as the 5thanniversary of the opening of the Embassy of Japan in Albania. So far, The Embassy of Japan in Albania has collaborated with 52 municipalities, public hospitals and NGOs in the framework of its program “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects” (GGP).
