Speech by H.E. Mr. Naoto Nikai,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan
to the Republic of Sierra Leone
at the Ceremony for Signing and Exchanging Notes for
Food Aid, 8th December 2011, Accra
Honourable Minister of Trade and Industry Dr. Richard Konteh,His Excellency the High Commissioner Mr. Osman Foday Yansaneh,Ladies and Gentlemen
Good morning and thank you all for being here today.
We are here to exchange notes between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone, whereby the Japanese government will provide Food Aid totaling 250 million Japanese Yen(approximately 3.2 million US dollars).
This year, the erratic rain pattern affected the majority of rice-producing areas in Sierra Leone which would lead to lower rice production and higher rice price. Then we received a request of Food Aid from your Government, and Japan has decided promptly to provide the Food Aid to help the people of Sierra Leone.
Food security is one of the key areas of importance in Sierra Leone where the people and the Government are moving forward for reconstruction, stabilization and development of the country. Japan has provided Food Aid to Sierra Leone in 2008, and we provide the Food Aid again this year to contribute to the food security in Sierra Leone.
The advantage of Food Aid is, not only that the rice is purchased and brought by this grant, but also the proceeds of sale will be put into “the Counterpart Fund” and the funds will be utilized rather quickly for further development purposes in Sierra Leone.
In conclusion, I sincerely hope that this project will foster stronger friendship between Japan and Sierra Leone, and the successful implementation of this grant will further assist the development of Sierra Leone.
Thank you very much.