Tokyo: Qatar’s Ambassador to Japan and Chairman of Qatar Friendship Fund (QFF), Yousef Mohammed Bilal, stressed that the wise decision of the Qatari leadership to establish a fund to support those affected in the earthquake disaster and floods that hit northern Japan in 2011, has received a wide acclaim at all official, popular and media levels in Japan, contributing to further enhancing the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Bilal said: “Qatar has proved that it is one of the closest friends of Japan, through its human stances adopted by our wise leadership’s decision to respond to the needs of our Japanese friends in the wake of the earthquake disaster that hit regions of northeastern Japan in March 2011, and the announcement of an Emiri donation of $100m to support the victims of the disaster.
“QFF, which I have the honour to chair, is a symbol of our strong relations with our Japanese friends and our firm commitment to provide emergency relief and other forms of aid to the victims at the affected areas, through the implementation of rehabilitation and reconstruction projects,” he said.
The $100m fund was launched at the initiative of H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Emir, and sponsored at present by the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and directly supervised by the Foreign Minister, H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah.
The ambassador appreciated the strong and friendly relations between Qatar and Japan since their establishment in 1972, noting that they are characterised by a fruitful cooperation in the economic field, especially in the energy sector, as Japan is a major importer of Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG).
In this context, Bilal said the strong political will and interest by both sides have contributed to the strengthening and expanding bilateral relations to become a multi-faceted and comprehensive partnership covering all areas.
The Fund supports projects that meet the urgent and critical needs of the largest number of beneficiaries, focusing on the three key priority areas, namely: children’s education, fisheries and health care in the three affected prefectures of Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate, he said.
QFF implements a total of 10 projects, most of which have been completed, while work in the remaining projects is underway and are expected to be completed by the end of this year, he said, expressing pride over the achievements and vital projects that brought smiles and hope to the hearts of the victims.
These projects have already contributed to alleviating the suffering of many of the victims and improving the lives of the local population, through the creation of jobs and provision of a favourable environment, he said.
He pointed to the projects which are expected to be completed by the end of 2014 saying “The Elem Project in the cities of Iwaki and Sendai is an experience-based educational programme, in partnership with Junior Achievement, in which visiting groups of school students undertake life lessons and gain skills on designing their future in simulated real city environments. Two new facilities will help foster work-readiness and financial literacy.
He said that the project (Qatar Science Campus), which is expected to be open in July, is a project to renovate a section of the Graduate School of Engineering at Tohoku University and create an interactive learning-centre for visiting schoolchildren as well as to educate children and nurture much needed, next-generation engineers and researchers in the Tohoku region.
Qatar Sports Park in Shirakawa city will provide new sporting facilities to help reinvigorate the city and wellbeing of the surrounding communities, he said.
The Intilaq: Tohoku Innovators Hub is one of the projects which will help in the establishment of small businesses said the ambassador adding that it is a project that forms part of a globally connected ecosystem of start-up communities that foster entrepreneurship. The new hub in Sendai will provide multiple programmes for entrepreneurs to help them succeed and create local businesses. Intilaq will offer guidance, instruction and hope, and share insights and skills that will lead to sustainable economic growth in the region and connect Tohoku with like-minded thinkers in Japan and around the world.
QNA
