TIRANA, Dec 19/ATA/ On December 15, 2022, a new Backhoe Loader funded by Japan’s Grant scheme “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects” (GGP) was handed over to Berat Municipality. With the new vehicle, provided by the Grant amounting to EUR 82,500, the Municipality will be able to fulfill the needs for maintenance and improvement of the irrigation canals. The Municipality can also use this vehicle as an emergency mean of unblocking drainage canals that might lead to floods during heavy rainfalls.
This is the second grant awarded to Berat Municipality in the framework of Japan’s Grant scheme GGP. Through the first grant awarded in 2019, a fire truck was provided to the Municipality in order to improve the disaster prevention capacities of Berat to cope with different kinds of emergencies like fires, floods, accidents, rescue operations etc. This project was especially important since Berat, as a UNESCO World Heritage site is an important location for the history of the country.
The Ambassador of Japan to Albania, H.E. Mr. TAKADA Mitsuyuki, and the Mayor of Berat, Mr. Ervin DEMO, attended the handover ceremony. During the ceremony, Ambassador Takada reconfirmed his Government’s commitment to supporting Albania’s development in the agricultural sector and other sectors as well. On the other hand, Mayor DEMO expressed his appreciation to Japan and the Ambassador in the name of all the citizens of Berat, for the support given to the Municipality.
Since December 12, a photo exhibition entitled “Journey to Japan” with photos of Japan’s nature, lifestyle and architecture was organized in the main hall of Berat City Hall and will be open to the public until December 23. This collection of photos are part of the exhibition “”Journey to Japan” – To Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Friendship between Albania and Japan”, an exhibition co-organized by the Embassy of Japan and several Municipalities in Albania throughout this year.
Japan has been supporting Albanian through the Grant scheme GGP since 1998, awarding grants to public institutions, local government authorities or NGOs for projects in the fields of health care, disaster prevention, environmental protection etc. The total GGP assistance to Albania for 58 implemented and to be implemented projects amounts to approximately EUR 3.84 million.
Additionally, the Government of Japan through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been supporting the enhancement of Financial Inclusion in Albania, through the implementation of the Technical Cooperation Project, “Smallholder Families’ Financial Inclusion Project in Albania”, in cooperation with Ministry of Finance and Economy. The primary objective of the Project is to improve financial inclusion of rural smallholder families, by developing new financial and non-financial products and services that flexibly respond to the needs of farmers.
