Japan's JICA appoints Takema Sakamoto as new India head

Takema Sakamoto will head the India operations of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as its Chief Representative for the country.
"JICA has announced appointment of Takema Sakamoto as the new Chief Representative of India Office. Sakamoto has rich experience working for JICA, including the task as the former Chief Representative of Iraq Office," a statement said today.
He will take over the job from Shinya Ejima, who completed his tenure in India this June, it added.
JICA is the Japanese governmental agency to channelise the country's official development assistance (ODA) for extending concessional loans, technical cooperation and grant-aid in an integrated manner to facilitate socio-economic development in developing partner countries.

JICA committed about JPY 300 billion (about Rs 16,000 crore) each year on an average over the previous three years in ODA loans to India to facilitate enhancement of transport infrastructure, water and sanitation facilities, energy availability, agricultural productivity and forest resource management, etc.
India has recently become the largest beneficiary of ODA from JICA and its support is expected to cover substantial parts of the effort to mobilise JPY 3.5 trillion (nearly USD 30 billion) of Japanese investment into India in five years as announced during the 2014 Tokyo summit meeting between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe.

"It is an extremely exciting time to be in India. Although it is deemed that India should be one of the fastest growing economies in the world, India is currently still facing various challenges, and thus, JICA is keen to proactively contribute to promoting dynamic and inclusive development, obtaining participation of citizens from both India and Japan," Sakamoto said.
On-going projects facilitated by JICA in India include Metro-rail networks in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata; Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and Western Dedicated Freight Corridor; power transmission/distribution in various states.
It is also aiding in various projects in states and cities, manufacturing and child health.