Ambassador of Bhutan to Japan V. Namgyel and Ambassador of Japan to Bhutan Satoshi Suzuki signed the Exchange of Notes for the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship in New Delhi today.
The Government of Japan will provide a grant of more than Nu 117 M to the Royal Government of Bhutan to support nine Master’s and one PhD courses for young government officials in Japanese universities. Candidates for the courses will be selected in September 2021.
According to a press release from the foreign ministry, the Project for Human Development Scholarship provides full scholarship with the objective to support human resource development and to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries. The Royal Civil Service Commission has identified four key areas for the scholarship courses: agricultural and rural development, industrial foundation development, infrastructure development for sustainable economic growth and countermeasures for climate change and disaster risk management.
This is the fourth Exchange of Notes signed for the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship. The first Exchange of Notes for the project was signed in 2018 in Thimphu coinciding with the visit of the Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono to Bhutan. 10 government officials from various agencies are currently undergoing Masters and PhD courses in Japanese universities. Like all the other projects supported by the Government of Japan to date, this project is also expected to strengthen the excellent bonds of friendship, understanding, and cooperation that exist between Bhutan and Japan.
Ambassador V. Namgyel conveyed the deep appreciation of the Government and People of Bhutan to the Government and People of Japan for their steadfast and generous support to Bhutan’s socio-economic development for many years, and for their assurances of continued support in the years ahead.