DUSHANBE, June 21, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- On Monday June 20, Mr. Yoshihiro Nakayama, Ambassador, Embassy of Japan in Dushanbe, and Mr. Hamrokhon Zarifi, Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, exchanged Notes concerning the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) in the framework of the Japanese Grant Aid, the Embassy of Japan said.

The Human Resource Development Scholarship Program (JDS) is designed to support the developing countries that have a high demand for human resource development in legislation, economy, management and international relations.  The Project in Tajikistan is designed for 4 years starting in 2009.  It will significantly contribute to the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in human resource development allowing young government officials to develop professional skills in the concerned field.

This year the Government of Japan has allocated a total amount of 105,000,000 Japanese Yen (about US$1.3 million) for the Project implementation.  The candidates are selected among the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan and National Bank of Tajikistan to earn Master’s Degree in international relations or institutional building for transition to market economy and economic development.  Up to 5 Tajik trainees get an opportunity to study at the International University of Japan and Ritsumeikan Asia-Pacific University.

In 1993 - 2009, the Government of Japan has extended over 15.3 billion Japanese Yen, which makes approximately US184 million in grants and technical assistance for the development of diverse sectors of economy, agriculture, education, healthcare, culture, as well as human resource development in Tajikistan.