The handover ceremony was held at the Municipal Hall of Gramsh in the presence of H.E. Ms. KATO Kikuko, Ambassador of Japan to Albania, Mr. Besion Ajazi, Mayor of Gramsh, Mr. Alban Laçi, Chairman of AFPRA and the staff of the Fire Protection and Rescue Service. During the ceremony, Ambassador KATO emphasized Japan’s firm commitment to support development in the fire protection and rescue sector of the Gramsh Municipality which leads to strengthen safety of the municipality and its citizen. She mentioned that this matches with achieving equitable development throughout Albania, on which the Government of Japan places importance. She also hoped that through this project the relations between Japan and the Municipality of Gramsh as well as Albania will be further strengthened. On the other hand, Mayor Ajazi and Mr. Laçi expressed their gratitude to the Government of Japan and Ambassador KATO for their continuous support provided in Albania, underlining the importance of the grant for the Municipality and its citizens.

In the field of fire protection services, the Government of Japan has been providing similar grants to the municipalities for the provision of fire engines and firefighting equipment since 2018.