[Title] Video Message by Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio at the IDA20 Final Meeting

Excellencies, distinguished guests, dear colleagues and friends,

I am very pleased that we have managed to hold this IDA20 Final Meeting today.

We are facing an unprecedented health, economic, and social crisis due to COVID-19. Many people are still suffering in low-income countries, where the pandemic hit particularly hard. Most recently, the sudden surge of the new variant has reminded us that we must jointly contain the virus throughout the entire world, including in developing countries.

Japan has announced to contribute 1 billion US dollars in total to the COVAX facility. In addition, Japan has provided about 30 million doses of vaccines to date in our efforts to provide approximately 60 million doses in total. Japan has also provided vaccine-related support, including the "Last One Mile Support" that ensures the delivery of vaccines to vaccination sites in developing countries, with a view to putting an end to the pandemic globally.

The IDA has also actively supported low-income countries in their response to COVID-19 since its inception, including vaccine support, under the leadership of President Malpass. The IDA's role has proven to be even more important during the crisis. This is why Japan has led the discussion on advancing the IDA20 replenishment from the outset and decided to host this Final Meeting.

To enable the IDA to support earliest possible recoveries of developing countries from the pandemic, Japan has decided to make a contribution equivalent to about 3.4 billion US dollars, the largest contribution Japan has ever made.

Let me conclude my opening remarks by wishing for a successful meeting and replenishment. Thank you.