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Rabat – The embassy of Japan in Morocco has signed two contracts with two Moroccan associations as part of a bid to solidify Japanese presence in the North African country, especially in terms of sustainable development initiatives.
The contracts are in the form of a €122,583 worth donation from Japan, with the aim of helping the two Moroccan associations complete their sustainable projects, according to a statement from the Japanese embassy.
Shinozuka Takashi, the ambassador of Japan in Morocco, signed the contracts with the two Moroccan associations, and he suggested that the donation is part of Tokyo’s commitment to boosting relations with Morocco.
Ambassador Takashi told Morocco World News that Japan is “so happy to be able to launch these projects as Morocco opens a new era after the elections last week.”
He added that the projects reflect the “strong partnership” between both countries.
“We hope that these two projects, which concern important areas highlighted in [Morocco’s] New Development Model, water management and the development of human capital, will be able to bring one more stone in the construction of Morocco’s future under King Mohammed VI’s leadership,” said the Japanese diplomat.
The two donations are within the framework of the program dubbed “Donation to local micro-projects contributing to human security,” noted the Japanese embassy’s statement.
The program, which was launched in 1989, has to date financed 366 projects from Moroccan associations – including a development project of a channel irrigation (seguia) in Ksrar Taznakht, Errachidia province, for the ALJID agricultural cooperative.
The first of the two projects consists of the construction of an irrigation channel over 950 meter area, with the objective of improving the living conditions of approximately 2,300 people, or 460 families in the municipality of M’daghra.
The project also seeks to strengthen the resilience of the local ecosystem in the face of growing impacts of climate change and increased water flow. Also part of the project’s portfolio is the need to improve local food security through the increase of the irrigated agricultural area. The Japanese embassy’s donation for this project amounts to €46,584.
The second project covers the extension of the boarding school for girls in the Tamaloukt commune in the Taroudant province for the Dar Talib Tamaloukt association.
“The project consists of the construction of a 206 square meter floor for the accomodation of 28 secondary school girls from three rural municipalities.”
The aim of the project is to fight high dropout rates, and improve schooling conditions for girls in rural areas. The donation for this project is worth €75,999.
The Japanese embassy expressed satisfaction with the donation, congratulating the initiatives of civil society working for sustainable development of local communities in Morocco.
During the signing ceremony, Ambassador Takashi said that the government and people of Japan are “proud to be able to participate in the realization of such projects, which will not fail to support the development of rural areas as desired by His Majesty King Mohammed VI.”
