The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Alvarez, signed an Exchange of Diplomatic Notes with the Japanese Government that will allow the country to access reimbursable cooperation of three billion eight hundred eighty-eight million yen (¥3,888,000,000), equivalent to approximately thirty-five million dollars (USD$35,000,000), through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Program.
“Through this cooperation, the Dominican Republic reaffirms its commitment to the use of energy in an efficient, friendly and environmentally friendly manner, a pillar of transcendental importance for this government administration”, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs when assessing the notes signed with the Ambassador of Japan in the Dominican Republic, Hiroyuki MAKIUCHI.
The official explained that the “Energy Efficiency Program of the Dominican Republic” seeks to reduce electricity consumption in the public sector and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through technological substitution and the implementation of energy efficiency measures in public lighting.
Ambassador MAKIUCHI said that the agreement signed strengthens the ties and bonds of friendship that unite both nations, while stressing that the funds allocated in the reimbursable cooperation will be provided to the Dominican Government with the co-financing of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
According to the documentation that forms part of this agreement, the Ministry of Energy and Mines will be the executing entity of the reimbursable financial cooperation, which, together with the loan agreement managed by the Ministry of Finance, will have to be submitted to the National Congress for its approval and materialization.
Present during the Exchange of Notes were the Vice Minister of Energy Saving and Efficiency, Alfonso Rodríguez; the Vice Ministers of MIREX, Hugo Rivera, José Julio Gómez and Roberto Rubio; the Cabinet Director, Miguel Núñez-Herrera; the Executive Vice President of the Electricity Distribution Companies, Andrés Astacio; and Max Puig, Executive Vice President of the National Council for Climate Change and Clean Development Mechanism.
Also present were the Legal Director of MIREX, Mariel Vílchez; the Director of International Cooperation, José Luis Morillo; the Rector of the Institute of Higher Education in Diplomatic and Consular Training, José Rafael Espaillat; and other local and Japanese officials.
