Japan sets record high ODA targets for Asia, Africa in FY 2009+

TOKYO, April 23 Kyodo - The Foreign Ministry said Thursday it has set record high numerical targets for Japan's official development assistance to other Asian economies and Africa in fiscal 2009, as the ministry focuses the nation's ODA policy on spurring growth
in Asian economies and assisting Afghanistan and Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.

The target for the rest of Asia came to a record 855.5 billion yen, up from
750.1 billion yen disbursed in fiscal 2008, which ended March 31. The target
for Africa stood at 188.5 billion yen, also an all-time high and up from the
previous fiscal year estimate of 129.7 billion yen.
The increase in target for the rest of Asia represents Japan's resolve to
stimulate growth and domestic demand in Asia as ''a center of growth open to
the world'' at a time of global recession, a ministry official said.
The official also said the larger target for Africa reflects Japan's pledge
made at an African development conference in Yokohama last year that the nation
will double ODA to Africa by 2012.
The target for the Middle East, meanwhile, was set at 148.0 billion yen, up
from 92.2 billion yen.
The ministry set a target of extending a total of 1,389.7 billion yen globally
in Japan's ODA in the reporting year, up from 1,112.1 billion yen for the first
increase in two years.
It is the first time that the ministry has disclosed any target amount for
Japan's ODA, the official said.
The amount does not include Japan's contributions to international organizations.
The 1,389.7 billion yen target is made up of 1,100.0 billion yen in yen loans,
160.9 billion yen in grants and 128.8 billion yen in technical assistance.
A ministry panel on the planning of Japan's international cooperation policy,
headed by Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone, approved the targets during a
meeting on Thursday, according to the official.
==Kyodo