On 2 March, Ambassador KARASAWA Akira of the Embassy of Japan and Mr. SHIMADA Masato, Representative of Japan Mine Action Service (JMAS) Palau Office, signed a Grant Contract for the project for Work on Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) in the Republic of Palau in the presence of Minister Aitaro and other guests. This project will be conducted for three years, from 3 March 2022 to 2 March 2025, which means it will run for a total of 12 years beginning in 2012. This agreement will make up to US$ 876,587 available from the Government of Japan to JMAS for the purpose of ERW removal activities in Palau for one year onwards.
Expressing his pleasure to able to sign the contract for the JMAS project, Ambassador Karasawa expressed his hopes for the success of the project including the technology transfer to the Koror State Rangers during the final three years of this project.
Extended his gratitude to the Government of Japan as well as the Government of Palau and Koror State Government for their valuable support, Mr. Shimada stated that JMAS will focus on the disposal of depth charges in Helmet Wreck as well as technical transfers to Koror State Rangers for the next and last three years.
Expressing his gratitude on behalf of the Government of Palau for the next three years support by the Government of Japan and the efforts of JMAS, Minister Aitaro stated that he would work with the Koror State Government to transfer JMAS’s skills for Koror State Rangers to become a training center for other regions in Palau.
JMAS, which has been working in the sea around Palau since 2012, has conducted several activities including the removal of depth charges found in the Helmet Wreck, the oil spill handling of Amatsumaru tanker and the clearance of ERW on Peleliu Island. Their activities have contributed to the marine environment of Palau as well as its people’s safety and security. JMAS has also provided a series of trainings in clearance of ERW to Koror State Government Rangers so that the people of Palau will be able to succeed the activities JMAS is doing today.
JMAS is a Japanese NGO established in 2002 and has contributed to the removal of ERW and landmines in Cambodia, Laos, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Angola and the Federated States of Micronesia other than Palau.