Japan has purchased large-sized equipment for Ukraine with a total capacity of about 200 MW, including 5 gas turbines and 7 large transformers, as part of its support for the energy sector.
The announcement was made during a meeting in Kyiv on Sunday between Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa. The equipment was purchased and delivered by the Japanese government in cooperation with UNDP and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency Jica.
“This is very important equipment. Some of it is still on the way, but two autotransformers have already been installed, and now we are talking about two more similar ones, as well as five gas turbine units and seven large transformers. We are talking about decentralization of the power system and an additional 200 MW of capacity,” Galushchenko said at a briefing after the meeting.
According to him, the equipment provided by Japan will be distributed throughout the country.
“This fully coincides with the goals of our national energy strategy aimed at decentralizing the energy sector,” the minister added.
In her speech, Yoko Kamikawa categorically condemned Russia’s ongoing attacks on civilian objects and the population and assured of full support for Ukraine.
“It is very important to support Ukrainians to protect them this winter. The equipment that Ukraine receives from us will benefit about 5 million of its citizens,” she said.
Ukraine’s state budget has received about $950 million from Japan as part of World Bank projects for recovery and social protection, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday.
“The financing consists of a $52.4 million grant from Japan under the Housing Opportunities for People’s Empowerment (HOPE) project and a $900 million loan from the Japanese government through the Investing in Social Protection for Improved Reach, Resilience, and Efficiency (INSPIRE) project,” the release said.
According to the release, the funds will be used to reimburse the state budget of Ukraine for urgent and priority needs, in particular in the field of recovery and social assistance.
The INSPIRE project is funded by a $1.2 billion loan from the World Bank’s Trust Fund for the Provision of Necessary Credit Support to Ukraine (ADVANCE Ukraine), with support from the Government of Japan, and aims to provide social protection to vulnerable populations during and after the war, improve access to social assistance and social services, and strengthen the adaptability of the social support system to effectively respond to current and future challenges.
The HOPE project aims to restore infrastructure in the combat-affected areas, de-occupied and affected regions of Ukraine. Funds will also be provided to homeowners for repairs in multi-family and private homes that have sustained moderate damage and do not require major repairs. The project will support policy reforms at the national level to improve recovery outcomes and alignment with Ukraine’s European integration goals.
On December 19, Finance Minister Sergiy Marchenko said that since the beginning of this year, Ukraine has managed to attract more than $39 billion in external financing, compared to $32.1 billion for the entire last year, and by the end of the year this amount will reach about $42.3 billion.
In particular, on December 20, Ukraine received a grant of EUR 150 million from the EU, and on Thursday – EUR 1.5 billion of the last tranche of the EU’s macro-financial assistance this year.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says Japan plans to allocate EUR 160 million to support Ukraine’s economic recovery projects.
“I have announced our priorities for rapid recovery: energy, housing, critical infrastructure, humanitarian demining and business support. I am grateful to the Japanese delegation for today’s mission, which will further involve Japanese companies in the reconstruction,” Shmyhal wrote on his Telegram channel on Monday following a meeting with Japanese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Kiyoto Tsuji, Minister of State for Economy, Trade and Industry Kazuchika Iwata, and representatives of Japanese business.
According to the Prime Minister, Ukraine is interested in establishing joint ventures, especially in the processing industry. “Cooperation in agriculture, metalworking, machine building, critical raw materials and IT is important for us. Japan’s experience in post-war recovery can be useful for Ukraine’s economic recovery,” Shmyhal added.
Japan will launch a new program to support Ukrainian refugees from April 2024, aimed at helping Ukrainians adapt in Japan, particularly by learning the country’s language and culture, The Japan Times reported.
“The Immigration Services Agency said on October 20 that it will launch a program in April to help foreign nationals fleeing conflict zones adjust to life in Japan… The program was designed mainly to help Ukrainian evacuees living in Japan, whose number exceeds 2,500,” The Japan Times reported.
The program is aimed at facilitating the adaptation of Ukrainians in Japan. In particular, within its framework it is possible to join courses lasting six months or one year to learn the Japanese language, as well as to familiarize oneself with the laws and customs of the country.
The Japanese Immigration Service Agency will also continue to provide cash payments to cover the living expenses of refugees from Ukraine. However, this will only apply to those without sponsors.
In addition, from December 1, 2023, a government decision will become effective in Japan, according to which foreigners who have taken refuge from the war in the country will be granted permission for long-term stay in Japan with the possibility of employment.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has announced the creation of the Ukraine Capacity Development Fund (UCDF) to provide technical assistance with a budget of $65 million over five years, and the Netherlands, Japan, Lithuania and Slovakia have become its first contributors for a total of $14.5 million.
“We are looking for $65 million over five years to expand (Ukraine’s) capacity development in the priority sectors supported by the IMF program. I am pleased to announce that donors have already pledged contributions of approximately $14.5 million. I am confident in your support for this initiative,” Georgieva said after a ministerial roundtable on Ukraine, which took place as part of the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, which ended on Sunday in Marrakech.
It is specified that the Netherlands’ contribution to the fund amounted to $7 million.
The official event to launch the fund on the sidelines of the IMF and WB meetings was attended by IMF First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath, Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko, NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyi and his deputy Sergii Nikolaychuk, as well as representatives of the four countries.
“These contributions will support the efforts of the Ukrainian authorities to stabilize macroeconomic conditions and restore the post-war economy while implementing comprehensive reforms that are consistent with Ukraine’s EU accession goals,” the IMF said in a statement announcing the creation of the UCDF.
Pyshny thanked the IMF for launching the new fund. He emphasized the importance of international financial assistance for Ukraine, reforming the Ukrainian economy, and strengthening the institutional capacity of the authorities.
Capacity Development Fund, JAPAN, LITHUANIA, NETHERLANDS, SLOVAKIA
Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa has announced the transfer of 24 crane trucks to Ukraine to help clear the territory of unexploded ordnance and two powerful transformers in preparation for winter.
“Last year, Russian attacks on infrastructure forced Ukrainians to live without electricity and heating. In this context, it is very important to prepare well for the winter. I have informed that Japan is handing over two large transformers by the end of September as an aid. Also, today there will be a ceremony of handing over 24 trucks with cranes to help clear the territory of ammunition,” he said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
He also said that the Japanese government has decided to reopen the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) office in Kyiv in the near future.
Hayashi Yoshimasa also welcomed Ukraine’s efforts to establish long-term peace in the country, including President Zelensky’s “peace formula”.
“We have agreed with Minister Kuleba that Ukraine and Japan will work together to call on the international community, including the Global South, to achieve this goal,” the Japanese Foreign Minister said.
In addition, he noted that during today’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, they agreed to start negotiations on a separate bilateral document between Ukraine and Japan based on the G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine.
“We will coordinate to ensure that the first round of consultations takes place as soon as possible,” the minister said.
The Japanese minister also said that he had visited the town of Bucha in Kyiv region.
