Japan to provide $3.41m for human resource development

Japan has pledges to provide $3.41 million grant to Bangladesh for the country’s human resource development.

In this regard, the exchange of notes and grant agreements were signed between the two countries on Wednesday, said a press release.

Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Sharifa Khan and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki signed the notes on behalf of their respective governments while the grant agreement was signed by Sharifa Khan and Ichiguchi Tomohide, chief representative of JICA Bangladesh Office.

The fund will be used for the ‘Human Resource Development Scholarship’ project being implemented by the ERD by 2025.

Under the project, the grant provided by the Japanese government is being used for scholarships for the BCS cadre officers, Bangladesh judicial service officers and first class officers of Bangladesh Bank for their Masters and PhD courses at various universities in Japan.

These scholarships will contribute to develop knowledge and skills acquired through higher education from Japanese universities. Moreover, it is helping to develop relations between the two countries.

So far, 383 officials have achieved Master’s degrees and two officials have achieved PhD degrees from different Japanese universities. At present, 89 officials are pursuing Master’s degrees and 12 officials are pursuing PhD degrees in Japan.

Japan so far spent approximately $40.45 million as grant for implementing this project for the period of 2001-2022.