Japan has cancelled a $2,6-million (2,9-million euro) debt it is owed by Tanzania as part of its efforts to support the east African country’s poverty reduction programme, officials said. An agreement to have the debt wiped out was signed in Dar es Salaam on Monday between the Japanese ambassador Keitaro Sato and the permanent secretary in Tanzania’s finance ministry Peter Ngumbullu. ”Japan is committed to helping Tanzania realise her poverty reduction objectives because the country is now expected to direct more funds to social services instead of debt servicing,” Sato was quoted as saying. – Sapa-AFP
Wednesday March 13, 2002