RAMALLAH, February 10, 2011 (WAFA) - Chairperson of Al-Aqaba Rural Women Society in Tubas Governorate,  Rowhiya Sbeih, and Representative of Japan, Naofumi Hashimoto, Thursday signed at the Representative Office of Japan in Ramallah a grant contract of the project to establish an herb bag production plant for local poverty reduction in Al-Aqaba village, northwest the West Bank.

The amount of the project funded by the Government of Japan through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects is US$100,000.

Through the project, the Society will establish herb bag production plant in their existing building, which will be used to give training to around 50 disadvantaged women and acquire skills in herbs production, and thus improve their socioeconomic situation in addition to share their knowledge and experience gained through this project among other women.

It also aims to preserve the environment of the Palestinian village and eradicate poverty by establishing a business that can involve almost all 600 families in the village and can utilize local resources.

Japan has provided assistance to more than 300 projects with a total value of approximately $21 million, which is a part of Japan’s total assistance to the Palestinians since 1993 exceeding $1.1 billion.

T.R./M.A.