NEW DELHI: Japan has signed agreements with India extending Official Development Assistance (ODA) totalling more than Rs 7,000 crore for three different projects. This further consolidates and strengthens the Strategic and Global Partnership between the two countries.
The notes were exchanged between Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Suzuki Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to India. The three projects include Patna Metro Rail Construction Project (I) of approximately Rs 5,509 crore; Project for Forest and Biodiversity Conservation for Climate Change Response in West Bengal of approximately Rs 520 crore and Rajasthan Water Sector Livelihood Improvement Project (II) of approximately Rs 1,055.53 crore.
Patna Metro Rail Construction Project aims to cope with the increase of traffic demand by constructing the new metro corridor 1 & 2, thereby contributing to improvement of the urban environment and development of the economy as well as mitigation of climate change.
Project for Forest and Biodiversity Conservation for Climate Change Response in West Bengal aims to mitigate and adapt to climate change, conserve and restore ecosystems, livelihood improvement activities and institutional strengthening, thereby contributing to sustainable socioeconomic development in the state.
Rajasthan Water Sector Livelihood Improvement Project aims to improve livelihoods of farmers as well as promote gender mainstreaming in agriculture and irrigation sector by improving water use efficiency and agriculture productivity.
India and Japan have had a long and fruitful history of bilateral development cooperation since 1958.