March 27, 2013
Japan Extends Grant Assistance for the Tribhuvan International Airport Modernization Project (Surveillance System)
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The Government of Japan has agreed to extend a grant assistance of up to nine hundred and eighty-nine million Japanese yen (Y989,000,000), approximately nine hundred six million and nine hundred thousand Nepalese rupees (NRs.906,900,000), or about ten million and five hundred thousand US dollars (US$10,500,000) to the Government of Nepal, for the execution of the Tribhuvan International Airport Modernization Project (Surveillance System) in Japan’s Fiscal Year 2012.
The Notes to this effect were signed and exchanged by His Excellency Mr. Kunio TAKAHASHI, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, and Mr. Shanta Raj Subedi, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Nepal, on behalf of their respective Governments. In the meantime, Mr. Tsutomu SHIMIZU, Chief Representative of JICA Nepal Office, and Mr. Madhu Kumar Marasini, Joint Secretary of the International Economic Corporation Coordination Division of the Ministry of Finance, also signed and exchanged a separate Grant Agreement for the implementation of the said project.
On the occasion, Ambassador TAKAHASHI recalled the background of the Project and said that, earlier, the Government of Japan had extended its assistance to the Government of Nepal with 3.559 billion Japanese yen for the Project for Modernization of Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu by installing a Radar System in 1994 and with 1.272 billion Japanese yen for the Project for Improvement of Existing Air Traffic Services System by improving Communication Systems in 1999. This assistance signed today is the continuation of Japan’s assistance for further strengthening aviation safety in Nepal.
Under these Notes, the Government of Nepal will utilize the grant to purchase the products and services necessary for the installation of a Secondary Radar System for Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). An Antenna Tower and Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar (MSSR) System will be installed at Bhattedanda, south of the Kathmandu Valley, and another MSSR System will be installed at TIA as a replacement of the existing [Airport Surveillance Radar/Secondary Surveillance Radar] system to enhance and strengthen the present surveillance system installed under the Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) extended in 1994.
The project is expected to address the need for the long awaited installation of a Secondary Radar System at TIA, which will enhance the surveillance capacity of the airport from the existing Approach control to an Area control system. With the installation of this system up to Dang in the west and entire country in the east, north and south of Nepal will be covered, making it easier for TIA Air Traffic Controllers to manage Nepal's air space more safely and efficiently. In this context, Ambassador TAKAHASHI expressed his belief that improved aviation safety in Nepal will certainly contribute to the development of tourism in Nepal.
He further said that a country’s economic growth, i.e. increasing economic activities, such as flourishing of tourism, trade, industries, farming etc. are the driving force for social stability, that finally contribute to political stability of any country. We could not ignore the significance of social stability on the cost of political matter. At least, both the economy and political matter should go side by side giving adequate and balanced priority on them for lasting peace and development of the country.
Nepal is on the path to peace and prosperity. In order to accomplish the national development targets, steady progress in the peace process without violence as well as desired acceleration on democratization process, are vitally important. Since the Constituent Assembly (CA) dissolved without accomplishing its task of drafting New Nepal’s Constitution, it is now inevitable that a new CA election will be conducted that will bring the political scene back on track towards democracy. In this context, Ambassador TAKAHASHI expressed his hope that the Interim Election Council of Ministers under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nepal will be able to conduct the awaited Second CA election at the desired time and once again all the political parties in the new CA will be united and come to a common consensus regardless of their political and ethnic differences to draft the New Nepal’s Constitution. Furthermore, Ambassador TAKAHASHI reiterated that Japan is committed to providing all possible assistance as long as the Nepalese peace process moves ahead in a democratic manner without threats and violence.
He expressed his belief that the continued support of the Government of Japan to the Government of Nepal in its development endeavours would certainly help improve the well-being of the Nepalese people. He also expressed his belief that this Project will prove to be yet another milestone in strengthening the existing cordial friendship and cooperation between the peoples of Japan and Nepal.
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