Japan Offers More Aid to Latin America, Caribbean Nations

Tokyo, Aug. 24 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said Monday that Tokyo will make an additional contribution of 10 million dollars to a new aid framework to help countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean strengthen critical minerals development and improve infrastructure. Katayama announced the plan in a meeting in Tokyo with Ilan Goldfajn, president of the Inter-American Development Bank. They discussed the development of critical minerals and infrastructure, as well as cooperation on food production technology among IDB members in Central and South America and the Caribbean. They signed a cooperation package that included the additional contribution which, combined with 20 million dollars in support that has already been announced, brings Japan’s financial input under the aid framework to a total of 30 million dollars. The meeting was held on the sidelines of a public-private business forum marking 50 years since Japan became a member of the IDB. “Areas of cooperation with mutual interests between Japan and the LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) region are expanding,” Katayama said in an opening address at the forum. Goldfajn said in his speech, “The foundations of the Japan-LAC partnership are very strong.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]