The project is billed to come on stream by this yearend or early next year.

At a simple ceremony yesterday at Takuba Lodge, South Road, Georgetown, Mr. Masateru Ito, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Guyana, and Mr. Clement Rohee, Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation, on behalf of their respective governments, affixed their signatures on the `Exchange of Notes' document.

Also present was Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.

Minister Rohee recalled that a team of Japanese consultants visited Guyana in July 2001 and conducted a feasibility study of the New Amsterdam project. They also held discussions with officers from the Ministry of Health.

Design teams from that country made subsequent visits in October 2001 and March 2002, following which plans were presented to the Government,

The minister pointed out that the application for the grant is all part of the Government's commitment to the development in health and other sectors for investment in human capital.

He also noted that Guyana is a beneficiary of more Japanese assistance in the areas of technical training, services of Japanese experts and other areas of economic and technical cooperation.

The Government of Japan hopes that the grant aid will contribute towards further developing the field of hygiene and medical care in Guyana, the prosperity of the country and further promote the long-standing friendship between the two countries.

The Government Information agency (GINA) had earlier reported Ramsammy as saying that the new building would be designed, constructed and furnished by the Japanese Government, and handed over to the Guyana Government in 2003.

The current New Amsterdam Hospital, which has played an important role as a regional core facility of hygiene and medical care, was constructed in 1884.