March 6, 2009
 Japan Hands Over Rice to Nepal
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This morning, His Excellency Mr. Tatsuo MIZUNO, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, attended a hand over ceremony of the rice granted under Japan's Food Aid (KR) to Government of Nepal in Japan's Fiscal Year 2007, at a function organized today at the premises of Nepal Food Corporation.
The Government of Japan extended a Grant Assistance of four hundred million yen (¥400,000,000), equivalent to approximately two hundred thirty-four million and four hundred thousand Nepalese Rupees (NRs. 234,400,000), to the Government of Nepal in Japan's Fiscal Year 2007. The assistance was provided with a basic objective of enabling the Government of Nepal to procure rice and supply it to the needy population living in the food deficit districts of Nepal. A total of 7,101 metric tons (MT) of rice procured under Food Aid 2007, safely arrived from Japan in December of last year. This huge volume of rice has already been transported to Kathmandu (20%), Birgunj (20%), Nepalgunj (20%) and Surkhet (40%) respectively. Nepal Food Corporation is to be responsible for its transportation and distribution of rice from these cities, to the food deficit areas in the hilly and mountainous regions of Nepal.
As a close friend and development partner to Nepal, Japan has been providing Food Aid to Nepal for the last several years. As of FY 2007, Japan has extended cumulatively food aid to Nepal totaling 91732 metric tons of rice and 24,300 metric tons of wheat, worth approximately 7.4 billion Japanese yen.
Speaking on the occasion, HE Mr. MIZUNO expressed his belief that the rice handed over to the Government of Nepal today will help to ease the problem of food shortages in the country; ultimately benefiting the needy population living in the mountain and remote areas.
HE Mr. MIZUNO also expressed his sincere hope that the assistance will yet serve as a milestone in further strengthening the friendly relations between Japan and Nepal.
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