Japan helps construct new classrooms at Shree Himalaya Secondary School

Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Kikuta Yutaka signed a grant contract with president of NPO Nepal Volunteer Social Service Lakpa Nurbu Sherpa for building new classrooms in Sankhuwasabha District.

The signing ceremony was held at the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu today, according to a press note issued by the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu. “The project is funded under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) of the Japanese government and involves a grant of $185,971 (approximately Rs 23.2 million),” the press note reads, adding that tt is aimed to enhance the educational environment by constructing eleven classrooms. “This project will help students who previously had to study in deteriorated school buildings.”

Shree Himalaya Secondary School was established in 1960, and nowadays more than 380 students study at this school. The condition of the current school buildings is unsafe as there are cracks in the wall and leaks in the roof. These dangerous and worn-out classrooms cause difficulties for students to focus on their studies. The project will be managed by NPO Nepal Volunteer Social Service.

The Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu said that it believes the project will provide a safe and pleasant learning environment for students and will improve the students’ quality of education. “We hope that this assistance to the educational institute will further enhance the friendship between the peoples of Japan and Nepal now and for future generations, the Embassy added.

Japan constructs classrooms for specialised courses in agriculture

 An official of the Embassy of Japan handed over a school building for specialised courses in agriculture to the Shree Nepal Rastriya Tribhuwan Secondary School in Gulmi district.

Approximately 90 per cent of the population in Gulmi district is engaged in agriculture, but productivity has remained low. The low productivity is also among the reasons that has caused the younger generation seek employment abroad. According to a report in 2018, Gulmi district generates the largest number of migrant workers.

In order to address this situation, the Shree Nepal Rastriya Tribhuwan Secondary School planned a curricula of specialised courses in agriculture, according to a press note issued by the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu. "The curricula offers full-time courses for students of Grades 9 and 10," it reads, adding that the courses are designed to include subjects such as animal husbandry, sericulture, farm land management, and agricultural processing. "With the implementation of the project, the school also aims to interest the younger generation in agriculture."

Youth in rural areas generally tend to think that farming does not guarantee a stable income, which however, can change if it is done with the necessary knowledge and skills, it adds.

The Embassy of Japan expects the project to contribute to improving the lives of local farmers in Gulmi district and also promote the Nepal's rich agricultural resources. The Embassy also hopes the assistance will further strengthen the bilateral relationship between Japan and Nepal,

Japanese assistance to improve quality of education in quake-affected areas

 The Government of Japan has extended $877,008 (about Rs 102.82 million) to Shanti Volunteer Association under the grant, according to a press note issued by the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu.

The assistance for Japanese NGO Projects Schemes. 

Shanti Volunteer Association, a Japanese NGO based in Tokyo, will work with Nepali partner NGOs Samunat Nepal and READ Nepal, and targeted local communities to improve library and learning center services in four districts and to provide improved teaching methods, the press note reads, adding that a grant contract for tghe project was signed and exchanged today by charge d’affaires ad Interim of Japan to Nepal Yoshioka Yuzo and country director of Shanti Volunteer Association Nepal Office Miyake Takafumi. "This project, now in its second year, aims at improving services provided by community libraries and learning centers in Makawanpur, Lalitpur, Solukhumbu, Syangja and Sunsari districts."

It will also provide teaching methods and install library corners at 53 schools in Makawanpur district to improve the learning environment, adds the embassy of Japan in Nepal that expects that the project will build disaster resilient libraries and learning centers in earthquake affected areas and will contribute to improve the quality of education. "It is also confident that the project will strengthen the cordial friendship between the peoples of Japan and Nepal."

Japan helps build training center and emergency shelter, and health facility

 Japan has helped Nepal construct building training center and emergency shelter, and also for making sanitary napkins to support the hygiene of poor women in Birgunj Municipality.

The Charge d'Affaires of Japan to Nepal Ypsjioka Yuzo today signed a grant contract with the Community Development Center (CDC) to build a training center and emergency shelter in Rautahat district. The construction is expected to cost approximately Rs 91.5 million, according to a press note issued by the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu.

The project for building the training center and emergency shelter facility in Rautahat district is funded under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP) of the government of Japan. 

At the online signing ceremony, Yoshioka said that the project will help to promote the welfare and security of people in Rautahat district.

The Community Development Center was established in 1998 and has been providing trainings related to disaster prevention, vocational training, and that aimed to support education of children in the district. “The Embassy of Japan in its press note said that it believes that the project will also contribute towards further enhancing the friendship that exists between the people of Japan and Nepal.

Meanwhile, Yoshioka today also signed a grant contract with chairperson of Centre for Health and Environment Conservation (CHEC) Nepal Damodar Prasad Yadav for installing a machine for making sanitary napkins to support the hygiene of poor women in Birgunj Municipality.

The project is also funded under the GGP of the Japanese government and involves a grant of about Rs 4 million, the press note reads.

At the online grant signing ceremony, Yoshioka said that he believes the project will support many poor women to access sanitary napkins at low cost, and contribute towards improving their personal hygiene.

CHEC Nepal – established in 2009 – has been carrying out health and hygiene improvement programmes in public schools alongside environmental preservation activities in Parsa district.

“The support will contribute towards further enhancing the friendship between the peoples of Japan and Nepal,” according to the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu.

Japanese assistance for treating severe burns

 The Charge d'Affaires of Japan to Nepal Yoshioka Yuzo signed a grant contract with medical director of Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital Dr Santosh Bikram Bhandari for installing medical equipment for treating patients with severe burns in Kathmandu district.

The project is funded under the grant assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) of the Japanese government and involves a grant of $90,550 (about Rs 10.57 million), according to a press note issued by the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu. “The project will support the installation of medical equipment, including two ventilators and micrografting equipment.”

At the online grant signing ceremony, Yoshioka said that he believes the project will help the hospital to respond to the high demand for better services for patients with severe burns. 

The Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital – established in 1997 – has been offering specialised plastic and reconstructive surgeries, and other medical services including the treatment of burns and post-burn contractures, deformities and plastic surgeries.

The Embassy of Japan – according to the press note – believes that the project will contribute towards improving medical services for patients with severe burns and also contribute towards further enhancing the friendship between the peoples of Japan and Nepal.

Japan awards former minister Pandey with Order of the Rising Sun award

Japan is awarding former foreign minister Ramesh Nath Pandey with 2020 Autumn Imperial Decorations.

Pandey is one of the foreign recipients of the 2020 Autumn Imperial Decorations, according to a press note issued by the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu.

Pandey, who is also an author of many popular books including Kutniti Ra Rajniti (Diplomacy and Politics) and Kranti Ra Pratikranti (Revolution and Counter-Revolution), will receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun for his contribution towards strengthening the relationship between Japan and Nepal, the Japanese Embassy press note reads, adding that “Pandey as then foreign minister visited Japan with Crown Prince Paras and Crown Princess Himani in 2005 to open the Nepal Pavilion in the Aichi Expo '05. “He had at that time close personal relations with the former Prime Minister of Japan Ryutaro Hashimoto.”

They cooperated with each other to help organise the 50 year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2006," the press note adds. “In his stint as Minister for Tourism, Pandey patronised the Japan-Nepal-China trilateral expedition of Mt Everest in 1986.” He also issued a stamp of a Japanese monk Ekai Kawaguchi, who was the first Japanese visitor to Nepal, when he was minister of Information and Communications in 2002.

Japanese Decorations are conferred upon foreigners twice a year, on April 29 and November 3, concurrently with the conferment of decorations and medals on Japanese nationals. The Order of the Rising Sun is bestowed upon individuals of merit in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the nation or public. The award is also conferred upon foreign nationals, who have made notable contributions to the promotion of relations between Japan and other countries in areas such as politics and diplomacy, research and education, medicine and social welfare, economy and industry, and culture and sports.

Israeli, Japan embassies help Gandharva Community

 Israeli and Japan embassies in Kathmandu are jointly providing emergency food assistance to the underprivileged Gandharva Community around Kathmandu and Pokhara through collaboration with a Japanese International NGO, Japan International Support Programme (JISP).

With the financial contribution from the government of Israel, JISP is providing a vital good assistance to approximately 1,000 most vulnerable Gandharva people during the most auspicious festivals of Dashain and Tihar, reads a press note issued by the embassy in Kathmandu. “The goods include basic food items such as rice, lentils, oil and vegetables,” it reads, adding that soap bars and masks are provided at this challenging time of Covid-19. “The Gandharva communities located in Kathmandu were donated goods today and the goods will be sent for the community in Pokhara soon.”

Expressing happiness to be able to contribute to the Gandharva Musician’s Community of Nepal, ambassador of Israel to Nepal Benny Omer said, “In these difficult times of Covid-19 Pandemic, we are happy to be able to assist vital humanitarian needs to the wonderful community in Nepal. Wishing you all Happy and Peaceful Dashain and Tihar.”

“It is our priority to deliver basic food package to the vulnerable people as soon as possible, as the Nepali people are entering into one of the most festive seasons, Dashain and Tihar, in the midst of the serious challenges they are experiencing due to the influence of Covid-19,” representative director of JISP Mayumi Yoshida said, adding that they are working with some of the best traditional musicians of Nepal to fundraise for the most vulnerable.

This is the first collaboration between the Embassy of Israel and the Japanese International NGO. The Gandharvas of Nepal are keepers of one of the world's great musical traditions, a tradition recognised by UNESCO as Intangible World Heritage. For centuries, they have been the musicians of Nepal. Gandharvas depend on tourism for much of their livelihood and income. Their primary source of income is often building Sarangis which they sell to tourists in Kathmandu.  However, due to the on-going Covid-19 crisis, tourists are no longer freely coming in and out of Nepal, and many of the Gandharvas, especially of the villages, have lost their ways of making a living.

JICA Nepal signs grant assistance for Education

JICA Nepal today signed grant assistance agreements for the School Sector Development Programme (SSDP) as the Government of Japan extended grant assistance of 300 million Japanese yen (approximately Rs 335million) to Nepal for the 5th year of the ‘School Sector Development Programme (SSDP).
Japanese ambassador to Nepal Masamichi Saigo and finance secretary Sishir Kumar Dhungana – on behalf of their respective governments – signed and did the Exchange of Notes (E/N) for the assistance. Pn the same occasion, the grant agreements for the SSDP were signed and exchanged between joint secretary at the Finance Ministry Shreekrishna Nepal and chief representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Nepal Yumiko Asakuma.
The SSDP started implementation from July 2016 aims at consolidating gains from previous reform programmes and continue crucial reforms needed in the school education sector through the SWAp modality. The overarching mission of the SSDP is to produce the needed human resources to elevate the country’s status from a least developed country by 2022 and to reach the goal of achieving the status of the level of the middle-income country by 2030.
Purpose of the SSDP is to improve the equity, quality, efficiency, governance and management of the education sector. SSDP focuses on capacity and knowledge enhancement of both students and teachers by developing relevant teaching and learning methods and materials that ensures quality development.  Lately, SSDP also focuses on strengthening school-level disaster management and resilience to develop school as a conflict free zone.
As present education policies and sector plan (SSDP) of Nepal target to meet Sustainable Development Goal 4: ‘Ensuring inclusive and equitable education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’. It targets to ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality of education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes, while adhering to tackling disparities in remote area.
Development of Education sector in Nepal is one of JICA’s top priorities and it assures to continue its support to this sector for effective implementation and output. Considering the current situation of Covid-19 and its possible impacts to education sector, the government may explore necessary flexibility and develop a common understanding with all development partners to best utilise the available resources in addressing the emerging needs of the school education.

Japan extends grant for School Sector Development Programme

The government of Japan has extended grant assistance of up to 300 million Japanese Yen (¥300,000,000), equivalent to Rs 335 million to Nepal for implementing the School Sector Development Programme (SSDP).
Japanese ambassador to Nepal Saigo Masamichi and finance secretary Sishir Kumar Dhungana signed notes to this effect today at the Finance Ministry.
Another set of grant agreements for implementing the programme were also signed by chief representative of JICA Nepal Asakuma Yumiko and joint secretary at the International Economic Cooperation and Coordination Division under Finance Ministry Shreekrishna Nepal, according to a press note issued by the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu.
Education is an investment in human capital and the foundation of a nation's sustainable social and economic development, the press note reads, adding that the vision of SSDP is to contribute to the development of self-sustainable, competitive, innovative and value oriented citizens for the socio-economic transformation of the nation.
SSDP is considered as an important vessel for Nepal's school education. As such it will produce the needed human resources to elevate Nepal's status from a Least Developed Country (LDC) by 2022 and reach the status of a middle-income country by 2030. Ambassador Saigo hopes that the programme will improve the equity, quality, efficiency, governance, management and resilience of the education sector.
He also pointed out that the Covid-19 outbreak has made the situation difficult for both countries. The pandemic has had serious impacts on students' learning and well-being, he said, adding that with regard to this, the schools have incorporated innovative technologies (eg digital and mobile technologies combined with traditional technologies such as radio and television) in order to provide continuous education.
In view of this, ambassador Saigo hopes that even during this pandemic, the country will take up the challenge to ensure that children and their education will help to contribute to a more prosperous Nepal in the future. The Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu – in the press note – also said that it is confident that the objectives envisaged by the project will be achieved, and will contribute towards further strengthening the relationship, friendship and cooperation between the peoples of Japan and Nepal.

Japan extends grant aid for implementation of economic and social development programme

Japan has extended grant assistance of up to three hundred million Japanese Yen (equivalent to Rs 333 million) to Nepal for the Economic and Social Development Programme.
Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Saigo Masamichi and joint secretary at the International Economic Cooperation and Coordination Division of Finance Ministry Shreekrishna Nepal, signed notes to this effect today.
The Covid-19 infection has rapidly increased over the world and affecting human lives as well as economic and social activities, furthermore the dignity of people, reads a press note issued by the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu.
Many countries have been trying to use their resources to take steps based on lessons learned in the past and cases of other countries to tackle the virus. Unfortunately, many also face difficulties to provide health and medical services, and this has already severely damaged economic and social activities and wellbeing of the people, it reads, adding that Japan has been working to archive the universal health coverage, however, the current crisis particularly affects countries with vulnerable health systems. “Therefore improvement of the health system of each country is essential.”
Based on awareness for the problems and in response to a request from Nepal, Japan will provide medical equipment to be utilised for taking measures against infectious diseases and the development of healthcare and medical systems.
Japan also intends to cooperate with the international community, including this support, to take a leading and active role to overcome this global crisis, the press note reads. “The Embassy of Japan is confident that the objectives envisaged by this programme will be achieved, and contribute towards further strengthening the relationship, friendship and cooperation between the peoples of Japan and Nepal.”

Japanese grant for Implementation of Development of Digital Elevation Model and Orthophoto

The Government of Japan has extended grant assistance of up to Rs 1.32 billion (¥1,170,000,000) to Nepal for the Development of Digital Elevation Model and Orthophoto.
Japanese ambassador to Nepal Saigo Masamichi, and finance secretary Sishir Kumar Dhungana signed notes to this effect at the Finance Ministry here today, according to a press note issued by the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu.
Another set of grant agreements for implementing the programme was also signed by chief representative of JICA Nepal Asakuma Yumiko, and joint secretary at the the International Economic Cooperation and Coordination Division of the Finance Ministry Shreekrishna Nepal, the press note reads, adding that Nepal, as same as Japan, is a country prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides and floods. “In particular, floods during the monsoon in the Terai region cause loss of human lives and damage a number of properties every year.”
There were incidents of large-scale inundations in 2017 and in 2019. In this regard, developing and improving of a flood warning and evacuation system has been an urgent issue.
Japanese government will cooperate with the Nepal government as much as possible to enable Nepal to become a disaster-resilient country, the press note reads, adding that the digital elevation model and orthophoto to be developed under the programme is expected to contribute towards flood-risk reduction, especially through non-structural measures. “Both the digital elevation model and the orthophoto enables the preparation of high precision hazard maps, which can identify inundation prone zones in order to assist the preparation of practical evacuation plans.”
The Embassy of Japan – in its press note – showed confident that the objectives envisaged by the project will be achieved, and contribute towards further strengthening the relationship, friendship and cooperation between the peoples of Japan and Nepal.

Japan hands over Eye Hospital to Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh Udayapur

 The ambassador of Japan to Nepal Saigo Masamichi today handed over an eye hospital to the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh Udayapur in Triyuga Municipality.

At the handover ceremony, ambassador Saigo said that the assistance will enable patients to get better eye care while contributing to raise the standard of all services provided by the hospital. “The project for the construction of an Eye Hospital in Udayapur District was funded by the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) of the Japanese Government,” according to a press note issued by the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu. “The total grant assistance was $81,192 (approximately Rs 8.8 million).

The Government of Japan decided to support the construction of an eye hospital in Triyuga Municipality, Udayapur District, because previously the region did not have a specialized eye hospital, the press note reads, adding that it is expected to assist the improvement of eye care for people in Udayapur and neighboring districts. 

The embassy – in the press note claimed that it believes the project can also contribute towards enhancing the bilateral relations between Japan and Nepal.

Japanese assistance for rehabilitating school

Japan is helping Nepal rehabilitation of schools.
Charge d’ Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu Yuzo Yoshioka today signed a grant contract for Rehabilitating School and Building School Resilience to Disaster in Sindhupalchowk under Nepal Phase II with team leader at the Programme Department of Child Fund Japan Miho Nakajima.
The project is funded by the Japanese government and involves a grant assistance of $860,808 (approximately Rs 97.52 million).
At the grant signing ceremony, Charge d’ Affaires Yoshioka said that the project will foster and strengthen the capacity of public schools in Sindhupalchowk district in safeguarding children from natural disasters. In achieving this goal, ChildFund Japan, in partnership with local partner NGOs like Gramin Mahila Srijansil Pariwar, will provide multifaceted support to schools, School Management Committees (SMCs), and government officials by constructing seismic-resistant classrooms, conducting training on disaster risk reduction and Child Protection in Emergencies, and developing School Safety Plan which integrates earthquake drills in school.
The project will rehabilitate the School and Build School Resilience to Disaster in Sindhupalchowk district of Nepal and Yoshioka is certain that this project would give people more confidence to rebuild back better and also hoped that the project will contribute towards strengthening the cordial friendship between the peoples of Japan and Nepal.

Japan hands over excavator to Tukche village

An official of the Embassy of Japan handed over an excavator valued at about Rs 9.3 million to Ward No 1, Tukche Village, Thasang Rural Municipality, in Mustang District.
At the handover ceremony, second secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu Yoshiki Sando said that the excavator will be used effectively for emergencies and temporary counter-measures to control erosion.
Tukche village is located on the banks of the Kali Gandaki River and the people there have to deal with large volumes of water from snowmelt that erodes the river banks. The village is prone to erosion and people have lost their fields and have had to relocate because of the inability to tame flood water.
The Embassy of Japan believes that the project can contribute towards land conservation around Tukche, a press note issued by the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu reads. “It also believes that the assistance will contribute towards further strengthening the bilateral relationship between Japan and Nepal.”

Japan hands over school building in Myagdi

An official of the Embassy of Japan handed over a newly built school building to Shree Deurali Basic School in Myagdi District. The building was built with support of about Rs 9.2 million, according to a press note issued by the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu.
At the handover ceremony, second secretary of the Embassy of Japan Yoshiki Sando said that the support will assist in improving the educational environment in this remote area. “The project for constructing a new school building with eight classrooms at the Shree Deurali Basic School was funded under Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) for fiscal year 2017,” the press note reads, adding that the school has about 200 students, from pre-primary level to Grade 8 and previously they studied in three buildings, two of which had become vulnerable owing to poor maintenance.
This new two-storied building has capacity to accommodate all eight grades and is a part of the Japanese government's efforts to support safe schooling in Nepal. The Embassy of Japan believes that the project will contribute towards improving the educational environment in the district. It also believes that the project will contribute towards enhancing the bilateral relationship between Japan and Nepal.

Japanese team to explore cooperation in agriculture

A 25-member delegation from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), including agricultural experts and business persons, is visiting Nepal from November 10 to 16 on an official visit.
The team – led by deputy director-general for International Affairs and Minister’s Secretariat MAFF Takami Nakada – will hold meetings with high-level government officials and business persons, apart from visiting sites of agriculture and supportive facilities, according to a press note issued by the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu.
The delegation had first visited Nepal in January 2019.
The delegation will also organise a “Public-Private Joint Forum on Private Investment, Inter-governmental Cooperation and Acceptance of Human Resources between Nepal and Japan” on November 13 at Alfa House Banquet, Buddhanagar, Baneshwor, in Kathmandu.
During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will also be signed between the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) and Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC). The MoU aims to develop agricultural technologies to increase agricultural production and improve natural resource management, the press note reads, adding that president of JIRCAS Dr Masa Iwanaga will attend the signing ceremony.
The objectives of the visit are to explore investment opportunities in Nepal by Japanese agriculture and food-related companies, make a contribution to various cooperative activities and/or joint research between government agencies of the two countries for enhancing the productivity of agricultural products, according to the embassy press note. “The delegation will explore the possibility for Nepalese workers in agriculture, food and beverage production and the food and service industry under the new residency statuses specified skilled worker.”

Former envoy gets 2019 Autumn Conferment of Japanese decorations

The Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2019 Autumn Imperial Decorations.
Former ambassador of Nepal to Japan Narayan Prasad Arjal is among this year’s foreign recipients and, in recognition of his contributions towards strengthening the relationship between Japan and Nepal, he will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, according to a press note issued by the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu.
Arjal – who is now 86 years old and served as an ambassador of Nepal to Japan from 1985 to 1991 – contributed to the promotion of friendly relations between Japan and Nepal by strengthening economic cooperation with Japan in medicine, infrastructure and other areas, moreover by connecting the Royal Family of Nepal and the Imperial Family of Japan as well as local municipalities of both countries, the press note reads, adding that he also made contributions for the Nepali pavilion at the Tsukuba Expo of Science and Technology in 1985 and at the Osaka Expo of the International Garden and Greenery in 1990. “Japanese Decorations are conferred upon foreigners twice a year, on April 29 and November 3 concurrently with the conferment of decorations and medals to Japanese nationals.”
The Order of the Rising Sun are bestowed upon individuals of merit, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the nation or public, they also conferred upon foreign nationals who have made notable contributions to promotion of relations between Japan and other countries in such as politics and diplomacy, research and education, medicine and social welfare, economy and industry, and culture and sports.

President takes part in Enthronement of Japanese Emperor

The President Bidya Devi Bhandari had meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe at the Akasaka Palace, State Guest House of Japan in Tokyo this morning.
During the meeting, substantive views were exchanged on the key aspects of bilateral relations that covered infrastructure development, trade expansion, investment promotion, human resources development, and tourism promotion among others, according to a press note issued by the Foreign Ministry.
The President congratulated the Government and the people of Japan on the happy occasion of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor Naruhito and extended best wishes for peace, prosperity and happiness of the people of Japan in the new Reiwa Era.
President also expressed deepest condolences to the Government and the people of Japan on the loss of people and property caused by the devastating Typhoon Hagibis that occurred recently in different parts of Japan.
The Prime Minister of Japan sincerely thanked the President for accepting invitation to attend the Ceremony of Enthronement and expressed happiness to welcome her as the President for the first time in Japan. The Prime Minister assured of the continuation of Japanese cooperation for socio-economic development of Nepal including in the field of infrastructure. Japanese Prime Minister has also responded positively to help Nepal expand trade and reduce deficit.
Both sides, on the occasion, also expressed views on exchanging high-level visits between the two countries. The President’s entroug includes home minister Ram BahadurThapa ‘Badal’, foreign secretary Shanker Das Bairagi, ambassador of Nepal to Japan Prativa Rana, secretary at the Office of the President Dr Hari Paudel, principal private secretary to the President Dr Bhesh Raj Adhikari and other high-ranking officials of the Office of the President and the Foreign Ministry.

Naghdhunga tunnel road construction to begin from Monday

The government is preparing to lay the foundation stone of the 2.69-km-long Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel road project on Monday. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is planning to lay foundation stone of the tunnel road that is expected to ease travelling in and out of Kathmandu Valley.
The head of Nagdhunga-Naubise Tunnel Road Project Shyam Prasad Kharel confirmed that the preparatory works for laying the foundation stone has been completed. “The government had signed an agreement with Japanese firm – Hazama Ando Corporation – to construct the tunnel project on September 23,” he said, adding that the Japanese contractor will start the construction works after the foundation stone is laid. “Though the construction was expected to start from March, it was delayed due to various issues related to site clearance and land compensation.”
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is the development partner of the project that has, though, acquired the necessary land in Kathmandu some landowners still need to be paid compensation for land acquired from them in Dhading district.
JICA is providing loan assistance of $141.41 million for the construction of the tunnel project that has an estimated cost hovering around $188.19 million. The remaining cost of the project will be borne by the government. The government has also allocated Rs 6.27 billion for the project in the budget for the current fiscal year.
The government had signed a loan agreement for the construction of Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel road project with the government of Japan on December 22, 2016.
The Japanese government has extended a loan assistance of 16.63 billion yen (approximately Rs 15.28 billion) to Nepal to implement the project. The assistance was announced during the visit of Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuo Kishi to Nepal in September 2016.
The project – expected to be complete the project by 2021 – has earlier finalised the evaluation of both the technical and financial proposals that were submitted by the Japanese contractor.

Japan hands over agricultural facilities

The ambassador of Japan to Nepal Masamichi Saigo today handed over agricultural facilities to two Bhutanese camps and their neighboring communities. The facilities include green houses, drip irrigations and shallow tube wells, which are valued at equivalent to Rs 8.1 million.
At the handover ceremony ambassador Saigo said that he hoped the assistance would contribute to providing opportunities for income generation for Bhutanese refugees and the neighbouring communities.
The Project for the Installation for Agricultural Facilities in Bhutanese Camps and Neighbouring Communities is funded under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) of the Government of Japan, reads a press release issued by the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu. “This GGP project is managed by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Nepal.”
LWF Nepal was established in 1984 to meet humanitarian and development needs of the poor, oppressed and vulnerable people living in poverty and in vulnerable conditions. LWF Nepal has been working for the Bhutanese refugees since 1991 through funding support from international organisation such as UNHCR.
The Embassy of Japan also hopes that the project will contribute towards enhancing the self-reliance of the Bhutanese camps and neighboring communities, and will also strengthen the bilateral relationship between Japan and Nepal.