The Government of Japan has agreed to provide an assistance of Rs 26.19 billion (Japanese Yen 30 billion) to assist Nepal on post earthquake reconstruction.

The assistance consists of loan assistance of Japanese Yen 14 billion for Emergency School Reconstruction Project, Japanese Yen 12 billion for Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project and Japanese Yen 4 billion of grant assistance for reconstruction of Maternity Hospital, rehabilitation of water supply system in Sindhupalchok and construction of bridge in Barhakilo Barpak road in Gorkha District, the Ministry of Finance stated in a press release.

It is stated that the main objective of the Emergency School Reconstruction Project is to rebuild, retrofit, and repair schools in the earthquake affected districts. Likewise, the objective of the Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project is to restore and improve the living conditions of the earthquake victims by restructuring the destroyed and damaged houses with seismic standards in the earthquake affected districts.

The grant assistance of Japanese Yen 4 billlion is to support for the reconstruction of Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital and Bir Hospital, rehabilitation of Water Transmission System in Chautara, Sindhupalchowk, and bridge construction along the Barhakilo-Barpak Road, Gorkha.

The Department of Education is the implementing agency of the Emergency School Reconstruction Project while the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development and the Ministry of Urban Development will implement the Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project. The project under the grant assistance will be implemented by the Ministry of Health and Population, the Ministry of Urban Development, and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

The exchange of notes regarding the loan and grant assistance were signed today by Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Lok Darshan Regmi and Japanese Ambassador to Nepal, Mr Masashi Ogawa on behalf the Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan, respectively. The loan agreements were signed by Mr Madhu Kumar Marasini, Joint Secretary, International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division at the Ministry of Finance and Mr Tsutomu Shimizu, Chief Representative of JICA Nepal Office on behalf their respective governments.

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel and JICA President Mr Shinichi Kitaoka.

The Government of Nepal has expressed sincere appreciation to the Government of Japan for this assistance and for its continued support to the socio-economic development of Nepal.