Japan grants Rs 423m to Nepal for Human Resource Development Project

KATHMANDU: The Japanese government has granted Japanese Yen 454 million (approximately Rs 423 million) to Nepal for the implementation of the Human Resource Development Project during the fiscal year 2024/25. 

An agreement in this regard was formalised today with the signing and exchange of notes by both sides at the Ministry of Finance. 

Ram Prasad Ghimire, Secretary at the Finance Ministry, and Kikuta Yutaka, Japan's Ambassador to Nepal, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides. The Japanese Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) Programme, which began in Nepal in 2015 with support from the Japanese government, continues in phases.

The current grant will fund scholarships for 22 candidates: 20 for a two-year Master's Degree and two for a three-year PhD course at various universities in Japan. To date, 127 JDS fellows, including 125 master's degree holders and two doctoral degree holders, have completed their studies in Japan and returned to Nepal. Additionally, 35 fellows are currently pursuing master's degrees, and three are pursuing PhDs there.

During the signing ceremony, Secretary Ghimire emphasised that the scholarship programme will enhance the capabilities of Nepal's civil service, thereby improving public service delivery. He expressed hope that it would also strengthen bilateral relations between Nepal and Japan. The Japanese Ambassador expressed confidence that JDS graduates would significantly impact Nepal's development and further enhance cooperation between the two nations.

The Nepali government has appreciated Japan's continuous and generous support for socio-economic and human resource development in Nepal.