Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Japan to offer medical equipment to Cuba

Japan to offer medical equipment to Cuba

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will use a late-September
visit to Cuba to present plans for supplying medical equipment as
official development assistance.

Abe and Cuban President Raul Castro are also expected to agree on
establishing a training facility for specialist physicians. Japanese ODA
to Cuba will likely total nearly 1 billion yen ($9.74 million).

This first official visit by a sitting Japanese prime minister to Cuba
will symbolize the Asian country's interest in the Caribbean nation's
growing market. Cuba re-established diplomatic relations with the U.S.
last year.

Cuba boasts some of the highest medical standards in Latin America,
offering free care to citizens. But its medical needs are growing as the
population ages. Japan will supply X-ray image-processing equipment for
cancer, a leading cause of death, as well as items used in examinations.

Japan hopes to familiarize doctors in Cuba with Japanese offerings,
eyeing the nation as a potential export market.

Abe will tell Castro about plans to waive 120 billion yen of 180 billion
yen in debt that Cuba owes to Japan. Cuba has fallen about 30 years
behind on payment. Major creditor countries have waived portions of
Cuba's debt since the restoration of diplomatic ties with the U.S.

(Nikkei)

Source: Japan to offer medical equipment to Cuba- Nikkei Asian Review -
http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/International-Relations/Japan-to-offer-medical-equipment-to-Cuba

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