Phnom Penh, Nov 20
Japan will give a fresh loan of about $ 22.6 billion for the second phase of Dedicated Freight Corridor and an infrastructure project in South India, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda today told his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh as they met here, making up for an opportunity lost a few days ago.
Manmohan Singh, while welcoming the announcement of loan, emphasised to Yoshihiko Noda that India’s priority was investments by Japanese companies in infrastructure projects such as Delhi Metro Rail, which was a “fine example” other cities want to emulate.
The two leaders were to meet in Tokyo on November 16 during Manmohan Singh’s scheduled three-day visit beginning November 15 for annual summit. However, the visit was cancelled just a day ahead in view of sudden political developments in Japan with Yoshihiko Noda deciding to announce elections.
During the meeting today on the sidelines of East Asia Summit, Yoshihiko Noda expressed happiness at being able to meet Manmohan Singh to underline the close Strategic and Global Partnership between the two countries, sources said.
He told Manmohan Singh that he wanted to discuss the next steps in the relationship since they could not meet in Tokyo for the Annual Summit due to domestic developments in Japan, they said.
Yoshihiko Noda informed Manmohan Singh that Japan would be announcing the second round of loans under Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) for the second phase of the Dedicated Freight Corridor and a third infrastructural project in South India, where Japanese companies have a good presence, the sources said.
The fresh loan amount is expected to be 184 billion yen, approximately $ 22 billion.
The Japanese Prime Minister also mentioned Japanese interest in continuing the consultation on the high-speed railways.
Both the Prime Ministers expressed happiness on the signing of the MoU on rare earths and the Agreement on Social Security signed on November 16 in Tokyo.