NEWS - Japan Provides Grant Aid to

[BurmaJapan@xxxxxxx]

Japan Provides Grant Aid to Myanmar Organizations

               Xinhua
               10-NOV-97

               YANGON (Nov. 10) XINHUA - Japan will give nearly
               200,000 U.S. dollars to local Myanmar
               organizations in grant aid to help rural development
               projects and agricultural education, according to a
               press release by the Japanese embassy here
               today. 

               Contracts were signed here today between the
               Japanese ambassador to Myanmar and these
               organizations. 

               According to the contracts, some 57,000 U.S.
               dollars was provided to associations of Baptist
               churches for their integrated rural development
               projects in the Thantlang and Kalaymyo areas of
               Sagaing division. 

               The rest of the money was extended to the
               OSICA-International and Education Uplifting
               Association of Greater Pakhangyi for their
               agricultural education training program and
               construction project in Pakhangyi. 

               Japan also extended to Myanmar in June about
               16.5 million U.S. dollars used for debt relief.