OREANDA-NEWS. July 6, 2009. The seminar-presentation of the programme of the Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) with the network of 96 agencies worldwide was held at the President Hotel in Ashgabat. The Embassy of Japan in Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan organized the meeting that brought together the representatives of the ministries and departments of Turkmenistan and the private sector of economy.

Greeting the forum participants the Charge d'Affaires a.i. of Japan to Turkmenistan focused on the exclusive prospects for of versatile cooperation of the ODA with rapidly developing Turkmenistan, which advanced along the path of progressive reforms and changes. The diplomat focused on the capacity of ODA and its division – the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to finance technical cooperation with Turkmenistan. ODA applied a wide range of the effective tools including grant aid, providing experts, delivery of equipment and materials, bilateral loans, cooperation with donor organisations. ODA has granted medical, audio and visual equipment and sports goods to the sum of 620 million yen to Turkmenistan. Over 280 Turkmen specialists have been trained in Japan.

The programme of expansion of assistance to Turkmenistan in compliance with the priorities of Turkmenistan’s development strategy was presented at the forum. The very promising trends in cooperation included environmental protection, water resource management, education, health care, social welfare and terrorism and drugs control.

The seminar participants took part in the briefings to learn about the draft projects of technical assistance and the procedure of designing projects and processing applications.