Japanese pledges R14bn in aid

Tokyo – Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday pledged up to 117 billion yen (R14.8 billion) of development aid to Myanmar in a meeting in Manila with government leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The package of low-interest loans will be used to fund projects including infrastructure and small company financing meant to help improve rural incomes, Japan’s ministry of foreign affairs said in a release.