Japan on Tuesday announced a grant of over US$252.5 million as non-refundable aid for educational and medical infrastructure and equipment in a project in Ho Chi Minh City and two others in the southernmost province of Ca Mau.

A ceremony to sign contracts on the aid, which is part of the Japanese government’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) program, was held at the headquarters of the Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City.

Speaking at the ceremony, Watanabe Nobuhiro, Consul General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City, said Japan attaches great importance to the GGP program as it is humanitarian and brings direct benefits to local residents.

Of the total, some $78,500 will be spent on medical equipment for hearing-impaired children at the Center for Support and Development of Inclusive Education in Ca Mau Province.

Nguyen Nga, director of the center, said thanks to the modern equipment, children with hearing impairment will be able to access knowledge more easily.

One of the three projects is meant to build three classrooms and toilets at an elementary school in Ward 8, Ca Mau City, which is the capital of the namesake province, and it will receive the largest fund, at around $90,900.

To Phuong, chairman of the People’s Committee of Ca Mau City, affirmed that the project will contribute to dealing with deteriorating schools in the city and Ca Mau Province as a whole.

The remaining aid will be used to procure a new cardiovascular ultrasound machine for Gia Dinh People's Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

Nguyen Hoang Hai, director of the hospital, said that the machine will help the hospital shorten the treatment time for patients and ease pressure on its medical workers.

According to the Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City, the GGP program was initiated in 1989 to meet the demands of developing countries.

Since 1995, the Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City has conducted the program in 26 cities and provinces in Vietnam.

As of the end of 2019, 203 projects with a total value of over $16 million have been carried out.

The provision of aid this year is more meaningful as Vietnam and Japan celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

The Japan Vietnam Festival, which was held in Ho Chi Minh City on February 25 and 26 and attracted around 480,000 visitors, is a large event to celebrate the two countries’ 50 years of diplomatic ties.

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