Japan inks US$100 million loan to Ukraine; offers to help evacuees find jobs
- The aid will be co-financed with the World Bank and incorporated into the Ukrainian government’s budget, but not used for military purposes
- Welfare ministry said it will offer specialised job assistance services to people who have fled to Japan since Russia’s invasion of their country
Japan signed a 13 billion yen (US$100 million) loan agreement with Ukraine Monday, offering financial assistance as the country faces an economic crisis due to Russia’s invasion.
The aid will be co-financed with the World Bank and incorporated into the Ukrainian government’s budget, the Japan International Cooperation Agency said. Ukraine will not use the funds for military purposes.
The loan is aimed at “fostering de-monopolisation and anti-corruption institutions, strengthening land and credit markets, and bolstering the social safety net,” JICA said. Akihiko Tanaka, the head of JICA, and Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko signed the deal online.
The “invasion and humanitarian crisis is the greatest challenge faced this century to the international order, and commons values of democracy and the rule of law”, Tanaka said during the signing ceremony.
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“Millions of Ukrainians are now fighting not only for the independence of our state but also for the security of Europe and the democratic values of the whole world,” Marchenko said in response.
The agreement came after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in April that Japan would increase its total yen loans to Ukraine to US$300 million.
Also on Monday, Japan’s welfare ministry said it will offer specialised job assistance services for Ukrainian evacuees starting this week in Tokyo and Osaka.
Ukrainian people who have fled to Japan since Russia’s invasion of their country will have access to free consultations on job hunting and requirements for obtaining residency, according to the ministry.
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The services will be provided by Hello Work public job placement offices, with Ukrainian language support available if requested in advance. The services will also be open to those living outside of the two major cities.
The facilities, known as employment service centres for foreigners within the Hello Work system, in Tokyo will provide the support from Thursday and Friday in Osaka.
They will also accept consultations from local companies and municipalities who wish to take in Ukrainian evacuees, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
