(LINA) -Japanese Ambassador to Liberia, Karoru Yoshimura, has emphasized that the Non-Project Grant Aid signed between Liberia and his government will be of great help in boosting social development in the West African nation.

He noted that under the Aid, Liberia will receive products, for instance petroleum products, which will directly contribute to recovery of the social economic situation in Liberia.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Japanese envoy explained that through monetization of the products, the government of Liberia will be able to support additional development projects.

Ambassador Yoshimura spoke at the signing ceremony of a Non-Project Grant Aid of US$4.2 million between Japan and Liberia in Monrovia on Monday, May 18.

He said Liberia has already executed several social development projects by utilizing the proceeds of previous aid, including the program for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), the ELWA Zoning Project and the Construction of three bridges in Grand Cape Mount County.

He said the Aid from Japan has been provided to only eight countries in the world in the last fiscal years from 2012-2015.

He narrated that Japan is determined to provide this aid to Liberia based on the belief that the aid will be able to contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic situation in Liberia.

The Japanese diplomat noted that Japan selected Liberia because the Liberian Government has established the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit for the Counterpart Fund and has good track records to carry out valuable counterpart fund projects for social and economic development.

Yoshimura said he was delighted that the Non-Project Grant Aid is being granted at a time when Liberia has successfully overcome the plague of the Ebola Virus Disease and is taking steps to recover from the socio-economic damages Ebola left behind.
LINA GDJ/PTK