Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Japan to complete Pohnpei road

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): January 7, 2003 - A signing ceremony was recently held in Palikir to initialize the process of the Pohnpei Circumferential Road project under the Japan Grand Aid assistance.

Representatives of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia and representative of the Government of Japan signed on December 19, the outcome of the discussion on the Basic Design Study of the Project for the Improvement of the Circumferential Road around Pohnpei State.

The FSM Government had submitted a request to the Government of Japan for assistance in completing Pohnpei's road the completion of the road for for the project, to which Japan responded by sending a Basic Design Team to size up the project.

A similar road project is currently underway in the State of Yap with projected completion date of March 2003.

The Pohnpei study team is led by, Hideki Tomobe, the Resident Representative of the Fiji Office for Japan International Cooperation Agency or JICA.

During the signing ceremony Tomobe respresented the Government of Japan, with Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Lorin Robert, signing on behalf of the FSM Government and Acting Governor Jack E. Yakana signed for Pohnpei State, while Vincent Rosario signed for the Pohnpei Transportation Authority as the implementing agency for the project.

During the ceremony, both Deputy Secretary Robert and Acting Governor Yakana expressed appreciation for the initial undertaking by the Government of Japan and reiterated the importance of the project for the economic growth and development for Pohnpei State and the FSM.

Team leader Tomobe shared his hopes for the eventual implementation of the Project, as the Basic Study Team will later present its findings to its government for final consideration.

Held in the conference room of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the ceremony was witnessed by Hyosuke Yasui, Charge d'Affaires ad interim for the Embassy of Japan in FSM, members of the Basic Design Team and key personnel from Foreign Affairs.