Rescuers search for victims in a tsunami-hit area in Indonesia (Source: Xinhua/VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia and Japanhave signed an exchange of notes concerning a loan worth 31.8 billion JPY toimprove the Southeast Asian country’s management capacity in mitigating impactsof natural disasters.
Director of Asia Pacific Affairs of theIndonesian Foreign Ministry Santo Darmosumarto and Japanese Ambassador toIndonesia Masafumi Ishii were the signatories.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on February 14,Economic Counselor of the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta Shimizu Kazuhiko said theloan project in JPY is aimed at improving Indonesia’s natural disastermitigation capacity by encouraging the improvement of policy and system by thecountry’s relevant ministries.
The loan, to be channelled through the DisasterResilience Enhancement and Management (DREAM) programme, will be payable in 15years with an interest rate of 0.4 percent, he said.
He added that Japan disbursed part of the loanin 2019 and will continue disbursing in the next two years.
The DREAM Program will focus on four areas ofactivities agreed upon by the Japanese government and the Indonesian NationalDevelopment Planning Agency.
They are strengthening the government's capacityin managing disaster risks; improving the understanding of disaster risks;improving the early warning system and increasing investment to reduce naturaldisaster risks; and promoting post-disaster recovery./.
VNA
