Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his Peruvian counterpart, Rafael Roncagliolo, agreed Tuesday that Tokyo will provide grant assistance worth ¥1.4 billion to Lima for environmental measures and tourism development, Japanese officials said.
The two ministers also confirmed plans to cooperate in the negotiations for the multinational trade liberalization pact called the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Japan is soon expected to join.
"There are many areas in which both countries can cooperate," Kishida said, referring to the TPP talks, which Peru is already involved in, the officials said.
Roncagliolo said Japan's expected entry and the likelihood of the two countries working together are welcome developments.
The Japanese grants are expected to go toward acquiring next-generation low-emissions vehicles that do not produce carbon dioxide, and toilets that use microbes to break down human waste.
The use of these Japanese products, which will transport Peruvian officials and fill tourists' needs in mountainous areas — is aimed at helping Japanese firms enter the Peruvian market.
Kishida conveyed Japan's plans to double the number of Japanese volunteers dispatched to Peru for technical assistance and other purposes to about 40 by the end of March 2014, the officials said, adding that Roncagliolo appreciated the offer.