Japan backs South Pacfic port upgrade
The Tuvalu island group in the South Pacific has announced plans to upgrade port facilities at its capital Funafuti. Details were given in the island group's Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Report. It said Tuvalu would begin improving its port facilities with the help of a grant of $8 million from the Japanese government. An agreement was signed Wednesday formalizing Japan's funding programme.
According to the Japanese Ambassador Masashi Namekawa, the funding is aimed at improving the distribution of goods and products in Tuvalu through more efficient cargo handling facilities at Funafuti.
Initial development will include construction of a new jetty and the upgrading of port facilities, especially loading and unloading equipment.
Reports say that Tuvalu is also on the lookout for private investors who have plans to captilize on Tuvalu's position along key Pacific shipping routes close to East Asian markets.
According to the Japanese Ambassador Masashi Namekawa, the funding is aimed at improving the distribution of goods and products in Tuvalu through more efficient cargo handling facilities at Funafuti.
Initial development will include construction of a new jetty and the upgrading of port facilities, especially loading and unloading equipment.
Reports say that Tuvalu is also on the lookout for private investors who have plans to captilize on Tuvalu's position along key Pacific shipping routes close to East Asian markets.