We are looking forward to having more cooperation in the region specially Manipur which is going to be the gateway to the Southeast Asian countries. State government must decide its interested areas for cooperation with Japan –Japanese minister of economic & development, Kenko Sone.
Lelen Vaiphei
“Japan will always welcome any proposals from schools or organisations interested in getting support for development,” said Kenko Sone, minister of Economic and Development, Government of Japan.
The Japanese minister made the statement while briefing media at the side-lines of the inaugural ceremony of a secondary school building at Anallon Christian Institute, Chandel district in Manipur under the sponsorship of the Embassy of Japan on Tuesday.
Kenko Sone revealed that the embassy of Japan had been supporting the school in constructing the primary school building which he said has been well maintained till date. He also added that Japanese classes would be introduced in the school very soon. Considering the lack of development in the district and region, the Japanese government had earlier decided to sponsor approximately 4.7 million rupees for the newly inaugurated secondary school building for approximately 250 students.
The minister informed that Japan and India are now working for the development of north eastern region and for that an Act East Forum had already been formed. He said, till date three high level meetings has been held with the government of India in the presence of ambassador of Japan and the foreign secretary.
“Though Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has not yet materialize in the state, we are looking forward to having more cooperation in the region, specially Manipur which is going to be the gateway to the Southeast Asian countries,” said the Japanese minister of economic and development. While lamenting that the Japan financed sericulture project in Manipur had failed, Kenko Sone asserted that the government of Manipur must decide on which areas it is interested in getting Japanese support.
During the official visit of India’s prime minister to Japan in October last year, both the prime ministers of the two countries discussed about taking the partnership to the next level through dialogues and cooperation in peace, economic development and global issue, he said.
“During the third Japan- India Act East Forum in May this year, the connection of the two countries was strengthened by giving a clear direction on enhancing connectivity, forest management, bamboo initiatives and disaster reduction,” Kenko added
