In the village of Kazokobod in the Madaniyat jamoat of the Jaioliddin Balhi district in the Khatlon region, a ceremony was held to mark the completion of the construction project for School No. 20. The event was attended by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Japan to Tajikistan, Toshihiro Aiki, the deputy chairman of the Khatlon region Anzurat Abdusalomzoda, the head of the J. Balhi district Rustam Holikzoda, and the head of the education department of the Khatlon region Gazalsho Safarzoda. Local government representatives and villagers were also present at the ceremony.
A grant of $149,924 was allocated for this project as part of the Japanese government's program for non-reimbursable assistance to the general public and humanitarian security (GGP). Prior to this project, students had to study in unfavorable conditions due to the dilapidated state of the building. The new school building with 12 classrooms will accommodate over 500 students, significantly improving the quality of their education.
During the ceremony, Toshihiro Aiki emphasized Japan's longstanding support for Tajikistan in various fields, with education being a crucial aspect of bilateral cooperation. The chairman of the J. Balhi district and the villagers expressed gratitude to the government and people of Japan for their assistance.
The Japanese government intends to continue supporting the socio-economic development of Tajikistan. The GGP programs primarily benefit local authorities, educational and medical institutions, and international NGOs in developing countries. Since 1996, Japan has supported 462 humanitarian projects in Tajikistan, including 149 projects in the education sector, totaling $38.2 million.
