Monday, April 09, 2007
Japan lends Iraq $850 mn for reconstruction
International, Economy, Reconstruction
(AFP) - Japan on Monday lent some 850 million dollars to visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government as the oil-hungry Asian power looks to boost output from the war-torn country. Maliki received a ceremonial audience from Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at their palace in central Tokyo before holding a series of meetings which will culminate in a summit with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
"The reason I have come here is to express thanks for Japan's contributions to Iraq," Maliki told reporters as he met with Defence Minister Fumio Kyuma. Maliki was making his first visit to Japan and South Korea, two key economic partners of Iraq, which have both sent troops to help reconstruction of the nation.
Japan announced it had signed an agreement lending 102.8 billion yen (862 million dollars) to Iraq, repayable over 40 years with a 10-year grace period at an interest rate of 0.75 percent a year. The money will go to build the oil facility connecting pipelines in the southern province of Basra. It will also fund fertiliser and oil refinery plants and help improve electricity, a Japanese foreign ministry statement said.
The loan is part of six billion dollars in debt waivers and 1.5 billion dollars in aid which Japan announced for Iraq in 2003. Much of the aid is on hold due to concerns about instability.
"Iraq is important for us in terms of securing stable supply of crude oil. In that context, we would like to form a long-term partnership with Iraq," a Japanese foreign ministry official said.
Japan, the world's second-largest economy, has few natural resources and is almost entirely dependent on the Middle East for its oil.
Japan, which has been officially pacifist since defeat in World War II, took the landmark step of sending 600 troops to Iraq on a reconstruction mission. Kyuma told Maliki he hoped that more Japanese firms would invest in Iraq as soon as it is feasible, according to a defence ministry official.
"The reason I have come here is to express thanks for Japan's contributions to Iraq," Maliki told reporters as he met with Defence Minister Fumio Kyuma. Maliki was making his first visit to Japan and South Korea, two key economic partners of Iraq, which have both sent troops to help reconstruction of the nation.
Japan announced it had signed an agreement lending 102.8 billion yen (862 million dollars) to Iraq, repayable over 40 years with a 10-year grace period at an interest rate of 0.75 percent a year. The money will go to build the oil facility connecting pipelines in the southern province of Basra. It will also fund fertiliser and oil refinery plants and help improve electricity, a Japanese foreign ministry statement said.
The loan is part of six billion dollars in debt waivers and 1.5 billion dollars in aid which Japan announced for Iraq in 2003. Much of the aid is on hold due to concerns about instability.
"Iraq is important for us in terms of securing stable supply of crude oil. In that context, we would like to form a long-term partnership with Iraq," a Japanese foreign ministry official said.
Japan, the world's second-largest economy, has few natural resources and is almost entirely dependent on the Middle East for its oil.
Japan, which has been officially pacifist since defeat in World War II, took the landmark step of sending 600 troops to Iraq on a reconstruction mission. Kyuma told Maliki he hoped that more Japanese firms would invest in Iraq as soon as it is feasible, according to a defence ministry official.
Labels: Basra, electricity, Emperor Akihito, Japan, Nouri Al-Maliki, oil, oil facility, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Al-Maliki to visit Japan
Politics, International
(AFP) - Japan will agree to help Iraq improve crude oil output and push for reconciliation in the war-torn country when Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki visits next week, officials said Tuesday. Maliki will pay his maiden visit to the world's second-largest economy from Sunday to Wednesday and meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Emperor Akihito, Japan's foreign ministry said.
"Iraq boasts the world's third-largest crude oil reserves. It is important for Japan to build a long-term strategic partnership with Iraq," a ministry statement said.A Japanese foreign ministry official said Abe would also "encourage the Iraqi premier, who is a Shi'a leader, to further promote national reconciliation in Iraq," the official said.
The Iraqi premier is expected to sign a $700-million loan agreement with Japan to help the war-torn country improve crude oil output and power generation, an MP close to Maliki said earlier in Baghdad. The 40-year loan, part of financial assistance to Iraq announced by Tokyo in 2003, will go to build pipelines in the southern city of Basra and improve power transmission facilities across the nation, lawmaker Sami al-Askari said.
The Iraqi premier is expected to sign a $700-million loan agreement with Japan to help the war-torn country improve crude oil output and power generation, an MP close to Maliki said earlier in Baghdad. The 40-year loan, part of financial assistance to Iraq announced by Tokyo in 2003, will go to build pipelines in the southern city of Basra and improve power transmission facilities across the nation, lawmaker Sami al-Askari said.
Japanese officials had no immediate comment on the loan agreement. Japan has offered six billion dollars in debt waivers and $1,5-billion in aid grants to Baghdad, but much of the aid is on hold due to security concerns. Japan last year withdrew its 600 ground troops from Iraq following a reconstruction mission that marked the first time since World War II that Tokyo sent troops to a country where fighting was under way. Despite their withdrawal, Japan has maintained an air force mission, which includes some 210 personnel based in Kuwait in support of US-led forces. It decided last week to extend the mission by two years.
Labels: Basra, crude oil, Emperor Akihito, Japan, loan, Nouri Al-Maliki, oil pipelines, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
