Japan is providing grant support of $27.21 million or nearly Tk 2.30 billion to Bangladesh to help in higher studies of government officials and improving governance.
Exchange of notes and grant agreements in this regard was signed on Wednesday between the two governments at a function at Economic Relations Division (ERD), says a release.
The lion’s share of $23 million or over Tk 1.94 billion of the grants will be spent on the Project for the Improvement of Governance and Management Research and Training Facilities.
ERD Secretary Fatima Yasmin signed the exchange of notes and the grant agreements on behalf of the government of Bangladesh, while Japanese Ambassador to Dhaka Ito Naoki signed the exchange of notes’ and Yuho Hayakawa, Chief Representative, JICA Bangladesh office, signed the grant agreements on behalf of Japan government.
The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) is being implemented during the period 2001-2025 by ERD. Under the project, the grant provided by the government of Japan is being utilised for scholarships for BCS cadre officers, judicial service officers and first class officers of Bangladesh Bank. It is helping government officials in Bangladesh study masters and PhD courses at various universities in Japan. This scholarship is contributing to develop knowledge and skills acquired through higher education from Japanese universities. Moreover, it is helping develop relations between the two countries.
So far, 383 officials have obtained masters degree and two have achieved PhD degree from Japan till date under this project.
At present 68 (59 for masters degree and 9 for PhD) officers are studying in Japan and 33 (30 for masters degree and three for PhD) officers have been selected for studying in Japan in the last batch.
Under the Project for the Improvement of Governance and Management Research and Training Facilities, the grants will be utilised for developing physical infrastructure for training and research in BIGM.
It will enhance the physical infrastructure facilities of BIGM, and to establish specialised centers for joint education, training and research activities on good governance, management and development in Bangladesh and Japan.
The project will be implemented by Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM) under Ministry of Public Administration. Implementation period of the project is April 2021 to June 2023.
Besides the two grant agreements, Record of Discussions (R/D) of three projects under technical cooperation were signed on Wednesday.
These three projects are: Strengthening Capacity for City Corporations Project; Project for Improving Ground Handling Capacity at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport; and Project for Capacity Building of Nursing Services Phase 2.
It will be implemented by the local government division (LGD), ministry of civil aviation and tourism, and medical education and family welfare division respectively.
Through ‘Strengthening Capacity for City Corporations Project’ administrative functions in city corporations will be strengthened, which will contribute to improving service delivery of city corporations.
Purpose of Project for Improving Ground Handling Capacity at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’ is to improve convenience, efficiency and safety at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by providing sustainable ground handling services.
On the other hand, through the Project for Capacity Building of Nursing Services Phase 2, system of nursing education will be strengthened at the targeted public nursing colleges and hospitals.
Japan is the single largest bilateral development partner which is providing financial support for the socio-economic development of Bangladesh.
Till November 2021, the support commitment exceeded $27.40 billion and disbursement to $16.18 billion Japanese loans and grants are being utilised in a wide range of areas including power, roads, bridges, telecommunication, agriculture, health, education, water supply and sanitation, rural development, environment, human resource development etc.
The Japanese assistance contributed significantly in overall development of the country.
