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BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Japanese government and European Union have contributed over $2.5 million to the sixth payment of a private sector project in the Gaza Strip, an EU statement said Monday.

The Palestinian Authority's 'Private Sector Reconstruction in Gaza,' program is the first large-scale initiative supporting the private sector in Gaza, the statement said.

Japanese and EU contributions are being channeled through the European Union's mechanism for support to the Palestinians, PEGASE, and will support 32 Gaza businesses.

The latest financial contribution follows five earlier payments under PSRG since July 2010.

The total contribution amounted to around €13 million and benefited almost 660 eligible claims for businesses. Additional payments are expected in 2011.

The PSRG program was established after Israel's war on Gaza in 2008 and aims to 'revitalize the economic activity in Gaza.'