DUSHANBE, July 22, 2015, Asia-Plus – JICA Tajikistan Office says that the Exchange of Note took place yesterday between Mr. Kamada Takashi, the Ambassador of Japan to Tajikistan, and Mr. Sirojiddin Aslov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan regarding the implementation of a project for Human Resources Development Scholarship (JDS Program) in Tajikistan.
Based on the Exchange of Note, Mr. Ishii Kiyoshi, JICA Tajikistan Office Resident Representative and Mr. Sirojiddin Aslov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan signed the Grant Agreement on the implementation of the said project.
The 114 million Yen (approximately $ 950, 000) project provided by the Government of Japan through JICA, aims at: 1) developing human resources by sending young government officials to Japanese universities to study in master courses; and 2) developing and strengthening the relationship between Tajikistan and Japan.
The JDS Fellows are expected to acquire expert knowledge and engage in promoting social and economic development in Tajikistan.
The project for Human Resources Development Scholarship in Tajikistan was launched in 2008. Up to now 23 Fellows have reportedly completed master courses in Japan and are now actively working for the development of Tajikistan.
It must be mentioned that the key concept underpinning Government of Japan’s operations through JICA since its establishment in 1974 has been the conviction that “capacity development” is central to the socioeconomic development of any country. Therefore, within its wide range of programs, capacity development programs have long occupied an important place in JICA operations. In this regard, Government of Japan expects that JDS participants will acquire expert knowledge by conducting research, will build human and professional networks with participants from other countries, as well as representatives of Japanese universities, and will use such knowledge to take an active role in addressing social and economic problems, thus facilitating development in their respective country.
The Government of Japan acknowledged the sovereignty of the Republic of Tajikistan in December 1991. Since then, Japan and Tajikistan have developed friendly and tight bilateral relationship. JICA began its capacity building cooperation with Tajikistan in 1993 by offering 21 seats for Tajik officials to study in Japan. Apart from JDS, JICA sends around 100 people to Japan through its training program. Total number of participants in training Tajik officials in Japan covers around 1500 people from early 1993 until April 2015. The Government of Japan mainly focuses on health, agriculture, transport, drinking water supply and energy sectors through these training programs.
The aggregate amount of grant aid provided to Tajikistan is 191 million USD as of 2013, and the total amount of the provision of technical assistance is 56.5 million USD as of 2013 by JICA to Tajikistan.
