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Office of the Vice President and Ministry of Justice (Palau)
15 February 2023
Press Release
Wednesday, 15 February 2023 – The Bureau of Public Safety, Ministry of Justice, and the Palau Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Ministry of Finance, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to further expand their partnership through joint cooperations to ensure effective law enforcement in border management.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Honorable Vice President and Minister of Justice Senior and Director Aguon of the Bureau of Public Safety and Director Tarkong, Jr. from the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and on behalf of the Honorable Minister of Finance Udui, Jr. His Excellency Hiroyuki Orikasa, Japan’s Ambassador to Palau, also attended the ceremony.
The sealed new partnership of the Government of Japan and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) which provides a grant of 4.2 million USD to Palau, Fiji and Vanuatu allows for Palau’s portion of the grant to fund a 3-year project through strengthening the systems and capacities of border control agencies, including technical support to improve efficacy of services in various areas, including revenue assurance, ecological and food safety, migration, transport, and the tourism industry, all of which have been impacted greatly by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Palau would have stronger intra- and inter-agency management structures and border management system designs; Border agencies in Palau will be able to provide effective border services, implement public health protocols and support the implementation of COVID-19 measures to ensure business continuity during emergencies through improved systems, infrastructure and capacity; and Palau border management agencies would be efficient, transparent and accountable in the implementation of public health epidemics and border protocols,” said Vice President and Minister of Justice.
The significance of the protection of Palau’s borders is emphasized by the issuance of Executive Order 475 His Excellency President Whipps, J. to bring in border management agencies, the public health, and other relevant agencies to work towards the development and implementation of a strategic plan for Palau; and this opportunity to expand on partnership through joint cooperations shows Palau’s commitment to the work.
Vice President and Minister of Justice Senior, at the ceremony, also acknowledged and conveyed sincere gratitude to the Government of Japan for this generous support that has enabled this important project for Palau. She further recognized the “Tokubets” relationship that the Palauan people have with the people of Japan.