PRESS RELEASE N0: JPNEMPAK 13-16

Islamabad: 30th April 2013

The Government of Japan has agreed to extendtwo Non-project Grant Aids (NPGAs) for providing Japanese Medical Equipment, other products made by JapaneseSmall and Medium Enterprises (SMEs),worth 800million Japanese Yen (approximately US$ 8 million or PKR 807million) in total, to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Signings for the following two projects took place between Mr. Hiroshi Oe, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and Mr. Muhammad Shehzad Arbab, Secretary of Economic Affairs Division (EAD) on April30in Islamabad.
 NPGA for providing Japanese Medical Equipment
(worth600million Japanese Yen) (approximatelyUS$ 6 million or PKR605million)
 NPGA for providing SMEs’ products
(worth200million Japanese Yen) (approximatelyUS$ 2 million or PKR 202 million)

NPGA is a scheme to support the promotion of socio-economic development effort of Pakistan by providing foreign currency for the import of necessary goods and commodities.

The first NPGA will be utilized to import Japanese medical equipment to be used in public hospitals in Pakistan. The cutting-edge Japanese medical equipment is expected to contribute to meeting the increased demand for better public medical services in Pakistan.
The second NPGA will be utilized to import the Japanese SMEs’ products.Japanese SMEshave unique and efficient technologies on which large firms often rely.The grant aims to make use of these technologies to meet the development needs of Pakistan.

At the signing ceremony, Mr. Hiroshi Oe, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan said“I believe that these two NPGAs provide valuable opportunities to create synergy between Japan’s technological advantages and Pakistan’s development needs.I would like to see Pakistani market realize the advantage and high-quality of Japanese medical equipment and products made by SMEs.”

He expressed his hope that these NPGAs will contribute to strengthening the bond of friendship between Japan and Pakistan. (END)