Japan to provide Rs 350 million for human resource development

Kathmandu, July 26: Nepal will be receiving grant assistance of Japanese yen 376 million (approximately equivalent to Rs 350 million) from Japan for the implementation of the Project for Human Resource Development (JDS) Project in the year 2022/23.     

Both parties signed and exchanged the notes in this regard during a programme at the Ministry of Finance today.     

Madhu Kumar Marasini, Finance Secretary and Mr Tamura Takahiro, Charge d’affaires ad interim of Japan to Nepal signed the documents on behalf of their respective Governments.     

On the same occasion, the grant agreement to this effect was signed by joint-secretary Ishwori Prasad Aryal of International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division, Ministry of Finance and Mr Tanaka Tomoko, Senior Representative, JICA Nepal, the Ministry of Finance said in a press release today.     

The Government of Japan has been providing such scholarship grants to the Government of Nepal in a phase-wise manner. Under the first phase of the project, 80 civil servants have already completed their Master’s Degree and returned home.     

This grant will be utilized to administer the scholarship programme, including for payment of the university tuition fee, living allowances, settlement allowances, insurance and other basic allowances as well as supply of educational materials for 22 candidates (20 for Master’s degrees and 2 for PhD degree) to pursue their degrees in various Japanese Universities.     

The scholarship provides the opportunity of pursuing two years of Master’s degrees and three years PhD courses to young Nepalese civil servants who are academically sound and are motivated to be engaged in Nepal’s socio-economic development after completion of their studies in Japan.     

During the signing ceremony, Finance Secretary Marasini expressed his hope that this scholarship would be instrumental in developing the capacity of civil service. He further stated that the knowledge, skills and exposure acquired by the civil servants will be instrumental in improving the delivery of public services in Nepal and ultimately contribute to the socio-economic development of Nepal as well as in strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries.     

Similarly, Tamura expected that the JDS graduates will significantly contribute to Nepal’s socio-economic development as well as towards further strengthening the long-standing bilateral relationship and cooperation between the two countries.     

The Government of Nepal expresses its sincere appreciation to the Government of Japan for its generous and continued support for the socioeconomic and human resource development of Nepal.  (RSS)