Japan grants US$2.9mil for human resource development scholarship in Laos

Sisomboun Ounavong (right) with Yoshiharu Yoneyama at the signing ceremony in Vientiane on July 29. - VT/ANN

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): The Japanese government is providing more than US$2.9 million to the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) via grant aid in Laos.

A signing ceremony for the project was held in Vientiane on Tuesday (July 29) between Director General of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Sisomboun Ounavong and Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Yoshiharu Yoneyama, witnessed by officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sisomboun said the main objective of the project was to upgrade the knowledge of state officials through scholarships worth more than US$2.9 million, with the project operating from this month until April 2024.

There are 20 scholarships per year to study master and doctoral degrees at institutions and universities in Japan. The project will be implemented by JICA and the Ministry of Education and Sports.

JDS has been running in Laos since 1999. Up to the present, a total of 420 people have been sent to Japan, according to JICA.

JDS targets highly capable young officials (mainly government) who are expected to engage in implementing socio-economic development plans as future leaders, according to https://jds-scholarship.org/

Applicants must have a good command of both written and spoken English, a TOEFL score of 500 or higher is preferable, possess a bachelor degree from universities authorised by the Government of Laos or other countries, and have good mental and physical health.

In addition, JICA signed a Record of Discussions with the Department of Roads representing the Ministry of Public Works and Transport on Monday for “The Project for Capacity Development on Bridge Maintenance and Management” to implement technical cooperation commencing later this year.

The project aims to improve the capacity of government officials at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport as well as local authorities in the maintenance of bridges such as inspection, diagnosis, repair and rehabilitation planning.

Estimates put the number of bridges across the country at over 3,000, and many have deteriorated, been damaged or collapsed due to overloaded trucks. - Vientiane Times/Asia News Network