Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade RGOB
Press Release on the Signing Ceremony of the Exchange of Note for the Project for Replacement of Ambulances (Phase 2), Grant Contracts for “The Project for the Renovation of Irrigation Channels in Mongar Gewog, Mongar” and “The Project for the Construction of a Bridge in Athang Gewog, Wangduephodrang”
Ambassador V. Namgyel signed the Exchange of Notes for “the Project for Replacement of Ambulances (Phase 2)”, Grant Contracts for “The Project for the Renovation of Irrigation Channels in Mongar Gewog, Mongar” and “The Project for the Construction of a Bridge in Athang Gewog, Wangduephodrang” with Ambassador Takeshi Yagi, Ambassador of Japan to Bhutan on 18 March 2015.
The Government of Japan will be providing a total assistance of JPY-172,000,000 (one hundred and seventy two million) for replacement of ambulances (Phase 2), JPY-10,690,000 (Ten million six hundred ninety thousand) for the Renovation of Irrigation Channels in Mongar Gewog, Mongar and JPY-10,460,000 (Ten million four hundred and sixty thousand) for the Construction of a Bridge in Athang Gewog, Wangduephodrang”
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi Ambassador V. Namgyel said that the replacement of the 20 ambulances will benefit 18 health facilities which include hospitals/BHU-I and BHU-II spread across the country in providing effective and efficient emergency patient transport services.
The assistance for the renovation of irrigation channel in Mongar will benefit about 1000 people of Wengkhar, Kilikhar and Mongar villages through conservation of traditional rice varieties, enhance income of the villagers and conserve terraced paddy field.
Bridges in Bhutan are very important for connectivity and enhancement of economic opportunities in the mountainous terrain. The assistance for the construction of a Bridge at Dickchhu in Athang Gewog, Wangduephodrang will benefit 10 villages consisting of 90 households. The bridge will facilitate connectivity and enhance transportation by linking potential production areas to the market through the construction of the motorable bridge.
Ambassador V. Namgyel said that the projects are yet another testimony of the longstanding excellent friendship between the two countries and conveyed the deep appreciation of the government and people of Bhutan to the government and people of Japan for their continued generous assistance.
