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Japan second most generous aid donor

Wang

先輩
21 Apr 2004
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Japan second most generous aid donor

TOKYO, April 5 (UPI) -- Japan was the second most generous donor of total aid in 2005, according to preliminary figures released Tuesday by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

OECD data suggested Japan's annual contribution reached $13.1 billion dollars, up 46.8 percent from the previous year, positioning the country second only to the United States in the list of donor nations. The United States donated $27.46 billion in 2005.

The increase was mainly attributed to Japan's debt relief grants to Iraq, accounting for $3.22 billion. In March Japan decided to resume loans to Iraq amounting to $660 million after a more than 20-year lapse, during which Iraq underwent three wars and ensuing economic sanctions.

The money will be spent for refurbishing ports, nationwide irrigation projects and repairs of a thermal generation station in Baghdad.

Indonesia, the largest recipient of Japanese loans, has seen $802 million recently committed, reaching the country's cumulative total of $34.7 billion. But Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kara reportedly voiced dismay over his country's heavy debt burden.

A major loan project to construct a high speed transportation system in Jakarta was averted due to Indonesian complaints over the strings attached to the loan.

As Japan's fiscal year ended on March 31, many developmental assistance and loan issues were signed or concluded, with the notable exception of China.

The Japanese government postponed its decision on contributions to China before the fiscal year ended, reflecting a deterioration in bilateral relations.

On Wednesday, Yomiuri Shimbun daily quoted government sources as saying that new loans to China will be about $647 million, or $85 million less than the 2004 amount, to be finalized in May.

Although both countries had already agreed to end Japan's loans to China before the Beijing Olympics in 2008, some Japanese politicians are now suggesting they expedite the termination.


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Wang said:
Japan second most generous aid donor
Not quite so impressive if you take the %age of GNI (Gross National Income):

1) Norway 0.93
2) Sweden 0.92
3) Luxembourg 0.87
4) Netherlands 0.82
5) Denmark 0.81
...
17) Japan 0.28
 

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Both Japan and USA are few below the UN target of 0.7 % of GNI and it is a shame! Both conuntries should try harder and contribute more.
 
Han Chan said:
Both conuntries should try harder and contribute more.
The reality is that the world expects more while Japan's fiscal deficit has snowballed to unmanageable level. And there are always people out there who keep calling Japan shameful scrooge anyway.
There must be ways for Japan to somehow squeeze out additional aid, as well as ways to spend it more effectively. At least their tax money should never be wasted for low-interest loans to advanced countries that launch manned spaceships.

Just offering money would not solve everything; it also very important to expand other activities such as JOCV.
 
A robber robed you 60 days ago. Now he turns part of the money back to you. Should you say "thank you"?
Anyway, it is right. Japan is offer a big amount of donor should be known by more people.
 
Irrespective of whether it is enough or not, Japan's foreign development aid programmes do tend to be aimed at supporting countries which push ahead with democratic reforms and respect human rights. China and Taiwan on the other hand, are using ODA to encourage countries (particularly in Africa) to give them diplomatic recognition at the expense of the other, irrespective of the receiving State's human rights record or international relations.
 
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