Japan steps up support for ITC (en)

On 20 February, Ambassador Junichi Ihara exchanged notes concerning Japan’s contribution to assist four projects of the International Trade Centre (ITC) in the Middle East and Northern Africa with Ms. Arancha Gonzalez, Executive Director of the ITC.

This contribution is part of a supplementary budget of the fiscal year 2016, for social and economic stability in the Middle East and Northern Africa. Japan will contribute approximately US$ 794,000 to assist four ITC projects in these regions, including Syria, Jordan, and Sudan. These projects aim to promote social stability through vocational training for refugees and expanding employment opportunities, and promoting trade-led economic growth.

Ambassador Ihara said: ‘For the social stability of countries affected by conflicts, it is fundamentally crucial to support livelihoods by strengthening people’s production capacity, and to promote economic growth through trade by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). These ideas correspond with the concept of human security initiated by Japan.’

ITC Executive Director Arancha González said: ‘I welcome this deeper partnership between the International Trade Centre and the Government of Japan, which will focus on creating economic opportunities and jobs in these countries. This support will enable ITC to kick-start skills and vocational training programmes aimed in particular at youth and women, which will help create economic opportunities through connecting these entrepreneurs to markets. We very much appreciate collaborating with Japan to deliver trade impact for good.