Japan's ODA budget requests total 771.87 bil. yen, up 10.2%

TOKYO, Oct. 8 Kyodo - Budget requests for Japan's foreign aid in fiscal 2009 starting next April total 771.87 billion yen, up 10.2 percent from the initial fiscal 2008 budget, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

Despite the government's hope to expand aid, including a pledge to double
official development assistance to Africa by 2012, negotiations with the
Finance Ministry are expected to be tough amid tight state finances.
Ten of the 13 government ministries and agencies involved are requesting budget
increases for their respective ODA expenditures.
The Foreign Ministry, which considers ODA as one of Japan's most important
diplomatic tools, made the largest request of 500.62 billion yen, up 13.6
percent, followed by the Finance Ministry at 174.65 billion yen, up 0.3
percent.
The initial fiscal 2008 budget allocated 700.2 billion yen for foreign aid.
Japan's ODA budget has been cut for nine straight years. This has led Japan, a
former No. 1 world donor, to be surpassed by Germany and France in 2007 and
tumble to fifth place among 22 major donors in terms of ODA disbursements.
Final approval of the budget by the Cabinet is expected in December.
==Kyodo