Qatari Ambassador Yousef Bilal (third, right) and other officials inaugurating the $1.5m facility in Kesennuma City.
Doha: A $1.5m fishing facility to benefit around 1,000 homes and help rebuild fishing industry, was opened by Qatari Ambassador to Japan, Yousef Bilal, in Kesennuma City.
The facility, Al Furdha, will allow local fishermen to keep their catch alive until it is sent to market and is expected to boost the region’s economy reeling from the devastation caused by the 2011 earthquake.
Prior to the 3/11 tragedy, fishing was the lifeblood of the city, with around four out of five households reliant on the industry.
The unveiling of the facility represents a significant step towards rejuvenating not only surrounding economies but also transforming industry-wide best practices.
The ceremony was attended by over 100 guests, including the mayor of Kesennuma, government officials, fishing industry representatives and fishermen from nearby towns and villages.
Al Furdha, which means ‘window to trade’, is the latest in a long list of initiatives being undertaken by the Qatar Friendship Fund to accelerate the rebuilding of key infrastructure and supply chains in the Tohoku region.
As part of a combined $100m gift from Qatar to Japan, it is also one of two joint fishing industry projects with Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development.
The fund has directly benefitted more than 365,000 people.
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