Kathmandu-The Government of Japan has pledged a grant of 410 million Japanese yen (approximately NPR 390 million) to support human resource development in Nepal, with a particular focus on enhancing the capacity of the country’s civil service.
The grant agreement was signed on Tuesday during a ceremony at Nepal’s Ministry of Finance. The assistance will fund a scholarship program enabling Nepali civil servants to pursue master’s and doctoral (PhD) degrees at leading universities in Japan.
The initiative aims to strengthen the skills and productivity of government officials, contributing to improved public policy formulation and development management in Nepal.
The Exchange of Notes was signed by Dr. Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, and Maeda Toru, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal. The grant agreement was signed by Dr. Dhaniram Sharma, Joint Secretary of the International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division at the Ministry of Finance, and Matsuzaki Mizuki, Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Nepal Office.
Prior to the signing ceremony, Dr. Akihiko Tanaka, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), paid a courtesy call on Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle, who is currently leading Nepal’s newly formed government.
During the meeting, Dr. Tanaka expressed Japan’s continued commitment to supporting Nepal’s development priorities as a longstanding development partner. In response, Finance Minister Wagle said the government’s key priorities include strengthening good governance, improving public service delivery, and creating a more private sector-friendly investment environment.
The minister also praised Japan for its longstanding support to Nepal in infrastructure development, social sectors, and human resource development.
Officials believe the scholarship program will further strengthen Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations while enhancing the administrative capacity and leadership of Nepal’s civil service.
