1/26/2012
H.E. Ambassador received courtesy call from H.E. Mr. Takuya Tasso, Pefectual Governor of Iwate

H.E. Ambassador Mr. Al-Otaibi received courtesy call from H.E. Mr. Takuya Tasso, Prefectual Governor of Iwate, who expressed his deep gratitude to His Excellency and all the efforts made for assistance for the reconstruction of the severely damaged regions, and to the Kuwait government and people for their support and consideration.

H.E. Governor Tasso re-emphasized that the allocated share of the assistance money will be used in various projects for reconstruction, and this Kuwaiti donation will become the first and great step to build friendship between Iwate Prefecture and Kuwait, as well as become an example of the prefectural declaration of “open reconstruction to the world.”The Governor also explained considering to use this donation to rebuild the severely damaged Sanriku Railway railroads and train station buildings, and to purchase new trains. In order to make visible that the money came from the State of Kuwait, the Governor expressed his plan to set up some kind of monument, expressing that the infrastructure was build by the assistance of funds from the State of Kuwait and it people.

In return, H.E. Ambassador Mr. Al-Otaibi, expressed his appreciation for the courtesy call and gratitude made the H.E. the governor and emphasized that the State of Kuwait felt it a duty to assist Japan, whom Kuwait regards as true friend, due to the generous assistance given by Japan to Kuwait, during and after the Iraqi invasion. Ambassador Al-Otaibi agreed to continue support and cooperation for the progress of reconstruction, and exchanged fruitful proposals and ideas on the future mutual exchange between Iwate Prefecture and the State of Kuwait.

Present were:
*H.E. Mr. Takuya Tasso, Prefectural Governor of Iwate,
*Mr. Takuji Miya, Executive Director, General Afairs Division Bureau of Reconstruction
*Mr. Takeo Suzuki, Director, Iwate Prefectual Government, Tokyo Office
*Mr. Ayumi Ueno, Secretary to the Governor