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FSM & Japan Sign Exchange of Note to Improve Pohnpei Port Project

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): January 2000 - The FSM and Japan signed an "exchange of note" amounting to more than US$7 million this morning to improve the Deketik Fishing Port in Pohnpei State.

The Exchange of Note constitutes an agreement between the two governments to make improvements at the fishing port, located just north of Kolonia Town in Pohnpei State.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Epel Ilon signed the document on behalf of the FSM Government. Japan Charge d'Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Japan here, Takeo Yoshikawa, signed on behalf of Japan.

This Japan Fisheries Grant Aid to improve the port facility amounts to US$7.2 minion, according to Ilon.

The scope of the project will require a two-year period of implementation, said Ilon.

The project was submitted to the Japanese Government mid last year and received the nod to go ahead on December 14,1999.

"The department (Foreign Affairs) has been assured by the Embassy of Japan that this project will not effect the pending requests (Yap road and Pohnpei road) under the General Grant Aid from Japan," said lion. The grant will be used for the purchasing Japanese or FSM products and services necessary for the reclamation and the improvement of fish handling and other related facilities including project execution equipment and necessary installation services required for the transportation of products to the port. The Pohnpei State governor and other FSM, Japan, and Pohnpei officials also attended the ceremony held at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Palikir, the nation's capital.