Monrovia, August 15, 2013 – On August 14, 2013 a Japanese Government delegation to Liberia visited the World Bank Liberia Country Office and held a meeting with Country Manager Inguna Dobraja. The delegation was led by Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ichiro Aisawa, who is also the President for Japan–African Union Friendship League; and Madam Karen Makishima, Member of the House of Representatives. The meeting focused on fostering partnerships in support of Liberia‘s development priorities.
Welcoming the Japanese delegation to the Liberia Country Office, Madam Dobraja emphasized that partnerships have been and will remain essential in the Bank’s work in Liberia, especially with other development partners. She acknowledged very good cooperation with Japan International Cooperation Agency – JICA in the field and thanked Japan for all the support it continues to provide through the Bank, both to address global development priorities and to support the Government of Liberia in rebuilding its physical and human capital. “This excellent collaboration between the Bank and development partners in Liberia starts producing visible results,” the Country Manager emphasized.
The World Bank Country Manager used the occasion to brief the Japanese delegation of the new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Liberia which was recently endorsed by the Bank’s Board of Directors. The CPS, she noted, is fully aligned with the Government’s priorities outlined in its medium-term development Agenda for Transformation (AfT) and will support selected elements of the AfT. Particular emphasis will be placed on addressing critical constraints to inclusive growth, including the substantial infrastructure deficits in energy and roads. According to Madam Dobraja, “these interventions will create better environment for private sector investments and increase access to social services, especially outside Monrovia.”
Representatives Aisawa and Makishima commented on the recent 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) in Yokohama, Japan, where they met with H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia; and Mr. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank. They emphasized that TICAD V focus on “accelerating growth” while focusing on poverty/vulnerability reduction dominated the conversations with both Presidents and this agenda will continue to be the main priority for Japan‘s support to Africa and Liberia. The conference was co-organized by the Government of Japan, World Bank, UN and African Union.
Other members of the Japanese delegation were His Excellency Naoto Nikai, Ambassador of Japan accredited to Liberia and resident in Accra; and Mr. Masaru Watanable, Deputy Director General, Middle East and Africa Affairs Bureau.
Original Source:: Japanese Development Delegation Meets World Bank Manager for Liberia
