Japan on Tuesday signed an agreement to provide 194 million Japanese Yen (approx. US$1.3 million) in grant aid to the Maldives for the continuation of its scholarship programme under the Japanese Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS).
The Exchange of Notes was signed by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheryna Abdul Samad and Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives Ishigami Rumiko at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The grant, which will provide six postgraduate scholarships for Maldivian students this year, is part of Japan’s ongoing efforts “for further enhancing Human Resource Development in the Maldives”, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Launched in August 2020, the JDS project offers young professionals in the Maldives the opportunity to pursue higher education in Japan, with the aim of strengthening the country’s institutional capacities.
The Foreign Ministry said the new grant will allow for the continuation of scholarship opportunities “to be offered by the Government of Japan for the fiscal year 2025.”