The Japan-based non-profit, Nippon Foundation will provide six billion kyats in funding for development projects in the New Mon State Party (NMSP)-controlled area. This initiative is in cooperation with the Union Peace Commission and the Mon State Government.
The funding from the Nippon Foundation will be distributed to several projects, including the building of Mon national schools, health centers, home construction to accommodate family members of the NMSP’s army, and installation of solar-powered electricity for seven villages, said Nai Win Hla, who is in-charge of the NMSP’s Home Affairs Department.
“We are still planning for the constructions (sic) of houses for the [NMSP] army family members and schools. The meeting between NMSP, Nippon Foundation, and Mon State government already took place and [it was] agreed to start on the project after this rain season ends,” said Nai Win Hla.
By April 2020, the project will build 330 low-cost housing units, 2 healthcare clinics, 6 schools and install 2,300 solar panels.
Nai Win Hla added that although, “Ye Township consists of a mix of Karen and Mon villages, we do not separate for the Mon villages and for the Karen villages. We will also install solar panels in Karen villages, where no electric power is accessible. On KNU [Karen National Union]side, they have also been doing the rural development project.”
According to U Myint Than Win, Director of the Mon State Government Office, because both of the areas ethnic armed groups signed the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) the Nippon Foundation will provide USD 30 million in funding to the NMSP and the KNU.
Organized by the Mon State Government, a formal meeting to acknowledge this development took place at Aung San Hall, at the Mon State Government Offices on July 31, 2019. A number of government officials, and committee members of the NMSP led by Nai Win Hla, as well as representatives from the Nippon Foundation were present. These representatives agreed on the implementation details for the development projects in Mon State.
Earlier this year, the Nippon Foundation supplied the NMSP with a number of pieces of machinery to support the construction projects, including a bulldozer, an excavator and two dump trucks. The ceremony for the machinery handover from the Nippon Foundation to NMSP took place in Popawaddy village, Ye Township, Mon State.
