KATHMANDU, JULY 28
Japan has agreed to provide grant assistance of up to ¥410 million, equivalent to approximately Rs 390 million, to support higher education and capacity development opportunities for young Nepali government officials.
The assistance will be provided under the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS), which offers scholarships for two-year master's degree programmes and three-year doctoral courses at reputed universities in Japan.
Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Maeda Toru and Finance Secretary Ghanshyam Upadhyaya signed the exchange of notes on the grant assistance in Kathmandu on Tuesday, according to the Embassy of Japan.
Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Akihiko Tanaka were present at the signing ceremony.
Under the JDS programme, young government officials are provided opportunities to pursue advanced studies in Japan with the aim of strengthening their professional capacity and supporting the effective implementation of public policies and development projects in Nepal.
More than 200 Nepali government officials have received scholarships to study in Japan under the programme so far.
Ambassador Maeda said the JDS programme in Nepal had achieved positive results in strengthening the capacity of government officials while also expanding cooperation between Nepal and Japan.
He expressed confidence that the latest grant assistance would enable more capable and motivated Nepali officials to enhance their expertise and contribute to Nepal's development through improved policy implementation and public administration.
The assistance comes as Nepal and Japan mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.
The Japanese Embassy said it expected the scholarship programme to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, friendship and people-to-people ties between Nepal and Japan.