Development experts lament (beklager) recent falls in Japanese foreign aid budgets and are calling for a reversal of the trend, saying foreign aid benefits Japans interests in addition to helping millions out of poverty.
Kiyoshi Kodera, Executive Secretary of the Development Committee, a joint ministerial panel of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, said Japan has already slashed its foreign aid budget too much.
– Of course, fiscal consolidation is very important for Japan. But Japan should make a contribution to match its position as the worlds second-largest economy, he said.
The government plans to slash its foreign aid spending, dubbed official development assistance (ODA), in the fiscal 2008 state budget from the fiscal 2007 level.
The reduction is eyed based on the governments 2006 economic policy guidelines, which recommend cuts of 2-4 percent in ODA outlays over the five years beginning in fiscal 2007 as part of fiscal reform.
– Japan may fall behind France and Germany soon if it continues to cut its foreign aid budget, Kodera said, adding that European countries emphasized foreign aid “as a political priority”. He hopes the trend will prevail in Japan.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
