Events in 2021 (January - March)

1/28/2021
Meeting with National Olympic Committee of Timor-Leste

On January 28, 2021; Embassy of Japan in Timor-Leste had a meeting with the board of National Olympic Committee to discuss about necessary preparations for Timor-Leste’s participation in the Tokyo 2020 Games which was postponed to summer 2021.

1/29/2021
UNESCO 2nd Steering Committee Meeting for “Strengthening Science and Mathematics in Primary Education in Timor-Leste”

 On 29th January 2021, the second project Steering Committee Meeting was held for the project “Strengthening Science and Mathematics in Primary Education in Timor-Leste” at UN meeting room in Dili.
 The on site participants are Director-General of Pre-school, basic education and recurrent school Mr. Apolinario Serpa Rosa from Ministry of Education Youth and Sports (MEYS), Director and Representative of UNESCO Prof Shahbaz Khan, Secretary General of Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO Mr Francisco Barreto, and Deputy Head of Mission Mr. HIRASHIMA Shusaku.
 The online participants are UNESCO from Jakarta Office, Koei Research and Consulting KRC and National Federation of UNESCO Association from Japan.

 

2/2/2021
GGP Signing Ceremony: Project for Construction of Water Supply System in Coliate-Leotelo Village, Hatolia Administrative Post, Ermera Municipality

 On 2 February, 2021, the Embassy of Japan in Timor-Leste held a signing ceremony for grant contract of ‘Project for Construction of Water Supply System in Coliate-Leotelo Village, Hatolia Administrative Post, Ermera Municipality’ under program GGP.
 The Government of Japan decided to provide US$90,400 to Alfa Star, a local NGO that implements this project. H.E. Mr. Nicolau Lino Freitas Belo, Vice-Minister of Public Works and H.E. Mr. Masami KINEFUCHI Ambassador of Japan delivered speech at the ceremony.
 Ambassador KINEFUCHI congratulated Alfa Star and the community of Claetrema and emphasized the importance of this project by stating “the importance of access to clean water has become more important than ever now that we are faced with the treat from COVID-19 pandemic”.
 This project is to build 4 tanks and 18 public taps in the next 5 months to supply clean water to 854 people of 136 households in Claetrema area of Coliate-Leotelo village.

2/3/2021
Meeting with President and 1st Vice President of the National Parliament

 On Wednesday, February 3, 2021; Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, Mr. KINEFUCHI Masami accompanied by the Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. HIRASHIMA Shusaku had a meeting with President of the National Parliament, Dr. Aniceto Longuinhos Guterres Lopes and 1st Vice President, Mrs. Maria Angelina Lopes Sarmento.
 They discussed how to further strengthen and promote friendship that exist between Japan and Timor-Leste, including parliamentary relationship.
 

 

2/8/2021
Signing Ceremony of New Project on Reproductive Health Improvement in Ermera Municipality

 On 8 February 2021, a grant contract signing ceremony of project ‘Improving Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) in Ermera Municipality” was held at the Embassy of Japan in Timor-Leste.
 For the first year of three-year-project, Government of Japan provides US$ 636,804 to Japanese NGO “Frontline” under the scheme of “Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects”. The signing of Grant Contract was witnessed by H.E. Mr. Bonifácio Mau Coli dos Reis, Vice-Minister of Health and Mr. José Martinho dos Santos Soares, President Authority of the Ermera Municipality.
 Mr. Masami KINEFUCHI, Ambassador of Japan stated "COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown us that we urgently need to upgrade health and medical sector in this country, and we will continue to expand our cooperation to support efforts of Timor-Leste for this cause. I am sure this new project will also become an important step for the people of Ermera for their good health and well-being".
 The project aims to improve maternal and child health, which directly benefits 30,000 mothers and children, and health care workers in Ermera.

2/23/2021
GGP Signing Ceremony: Rehabilitation of Dom Bosco Fatumaca in Baucau” and “Construction of Primary School Building in Orlalan Village, Laclubar, Manatuto

 On 23 February 2021, the Embassy of Japan in Timor-Leste held a signing ceremony for grant contract of “Rehabilitation of Dom Bosco Fatumaca in Baucau” and “Construction of Primary School Building in Orlalan Village, Laclubar, Manatuto” under GGP program. The Government of Japan decided to provide US$90,909 to Dom Bosco Fatumaca and US$90,781 to Leobalu Foundation to implement these projects. H.E. Armindo Maia, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports and H.E. Masami, KINEFUCHI Ambassador of Japan delivered a speech at the ceremony.
 Ambassador KINEFUCHI expressed his appreciation to Dom Bosco Fatumaca and Leobalu Foundation, and emphasized the importance of these projects by stating; “constructing good buildings and facilities is very important, because schools are a symbol of hope as your nation’s future depend on them”. These projects will be completed in a year, improving educational environment for more than 700 Timorese students.

 

3/1/2021
Meeting with Secretary of State for Youth and Sports

 On Monday, March 1, 2021; Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, Mr. Masami Kinefuchi had a meeting with Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, H. E. Mr. Abrão Saldanha at the Secretariat of State for Youth and Sports.
 Ambassador of Japan explained how Japan is preparing for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and expressed his wish to welcome Timorese participation to these games. Both Secretary of State and Ambassador agreed to cooperate in due course towards the Games.

3/2/2021
Japan Provides Grant to NGO PARCIC for Nutrition Improvement Project

 On 2 March 2021, the Government of Japan and Japanese NGO “PARCIC” signed a grant contract for “Nutrition Improvement Project by Spreading ’Furikake’ and Eating Habits Improvement” under the scheme of “Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects”. The assistance provided by the Government of Japan this year is US$ 294,047, adding up to approximately US$ 1 million for this project over 3 years.
 This project aims to improve children’s nutrition by producing and introducing nutritious food called “Furikake (Japanese dried fish flake to season rice)”. More than half of Timorese children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition, so the improvement of their nutritional intake is an urgent matter for the future development of Timor-Leste.
 Ambassador KINEFUCHI stated; “PARCIC has been committed to working here in Timor-Leste for 21 years. With the accumulated knowledge and experience, they have contributed to nutrition improvement by using local ingredients and local cooking method that is easy for people in the area to learn. Through this project, I hope children will grow healthy and strong, enabling them to participate actively to nation building of this country in the future.”
 

 

3/2/2021
Japan Provides Grant to NGO SHARE for Healthcare Project

 On 2 March 2021, the Government of Japan and Japanese NGO “SHARE” signed a grant contract for “The Project for Strengthening Primary Health Care Service Delivery through Community Participation” under the scheme of “Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects”. The assistance provided by the Government of Japan this year is US$ 375,233, adding up to US$ 1.4 million for this project over 3 years.
 The project implemented by SHARE facilitates access to the primary healthcare services in both Atauro and Metinaro sub-districts, remote areas of Dili. People in the remote areas of Dili do not have sufficient access to primary health care services to cover basic and comprehensive medical needs such as infants’ vaccination and health check-up for expecting mothers. For the 3rd year of three-year-project, SHARE will continue supporting the Dili health office and will organize trainings in health care and boat maintenance.
 Ambassador KINEFUCHI stated; “SHARE has provided various training and assistance for basic medical services to the local medical staff, and visited villages in the remote area with them one by one. I sincerely hope that this project will help promote healthier life for the people in the rural area where provision of medical and health service had been insufficient.”

3/17/2021
GGP Grant Contract Signing: Project for Expansion of Ultrasonography Room of Radiology Department at National Hospital in Dili Municipality

 Ambassador KINEFUCHI and Dr. Aniceto Barreto, Executive Director of Guido Valadares National Hospital (HNGV) signed a grant contract of “Project for Expansion of Ultrasonography Room of Radiology Department at National Hospital in Dili Municipality” under GGP program. The Government of Japan decided to provide US$78,654 to improve the capacity of ultrasonic examination at the National Hospital.
 “Japan supports the improvement of ultrasonic examination, including using more efficiently the 4 ultrasonography machines we provided to National Hospital in 2018. This will improve further the quality of medical services for local people who visit the National Hospital,” Ambassador KINEFUCHI says.
 This project is to build an additional ultrasonography room, a waiting area, a toilet, a storage and a locker room for additional medical workers at the Radiology Department, which benefits 1,760 patients per month who require ultrasonic examination at the National Hospital.