The Government of Japan has decided to extend a Grant Assistance up to two hundred and ninety-two million Japanese Yen (JPY.292,000,000), or equivalent to about three hundred and six million Nepalese Rupees (NRs.306,000,000) to the Government of Nepal for the implementation of the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) in Japan’s Fiscal Year 2016.

According to a press release issued by Embassy of Japan, Masashi OGAWA, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal and Lok Darshan Regmi, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Government of Nepal, on behalf of their respective government has signed Exchange of Notes on1st July, 2016.

“This JDS Scheme was first introduced in Uzbekistan and Laos in 2000 and Nepal is the 15th country to receive JDS. These scholarships are designed to support human asset development in friendly nations through Japan accepting highly capable, energetic, and young government officials to study two years in a Japanese university. After studying two years in a Japanese university and obtaining a Master’s Degree, it is anticipated that these officials go on to become future leaders for the development for their respective countries. The second objective of the JDS Scheme is to strengthen partnerships between recipient countries and Japan by utilizing human relation chains,” said the press release.

Twenty officers from the Government of Nepal, who passed the three competitive selection processes, were selected for JDS Scholarship in Japan’s Fiscal Year 2016. They will leave for Japan in this August. In their respective universities they will major in economic policy; industrial development policy; development of human resources and administrative capacity of civil servants; building of international relations, or improvement of the legal and judicial system.

The Japanese Government expects that all the recipients not only succeed in obtaining a Master’s Degree, but also contribute to the earthquake reconstruction in Nepal by acquiring a wide range of knowledge about disaster prevention in Japan, an earthquake resilient country. In addition, it is expected that these officers will play a pivotal role in Nepal in future and will contribute to strengthening friendship and cooperation between Japan and Nepal.