JICA GRANT TO FOSTER FIJI’S KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY

NADI – The Permanent Secretary for Civil Service and Public Enterprises Mr.Parmesh Chand signed the documentation of the FJD$2.6 million grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Government of Japan in Nadi today.

The Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation (JICA) will be implementing the “Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship” enabling Fijians to access scholarships in Japanese universities from 2025 – 2028.

PS Chand stated that this grant support will complement Fiji’s newly launched National Development Plan (NDP) 2025-2029 and Vision 2050. The NDP is designed to beef economic resilience, people empowerment and good governance with the ultimate goal to bring greater prosperity to the nation, reduce poverty, and improve the social and economic wellbeing of our people.

“This grant is timely as it will help Government create a knowledge-based economy in Fiji which will in turn achieve the aspirations of the National Development Plan,” PS Chand stated.

“Bilateral development partnerships like this will allow Civil Servants to be key contributors to Fiji’s socio-economic development plans by actively engaging in policy formulation and implementation of social and economic development policies.”

The Japanese Ambassador says Japan he is confident that this support will help Fiji realize its  National Development Plan’s aspirations.

“The signing of the "Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship is a new milestone in the Japan-Fiji relations — as this is our first formal agreement under this initiative, which exemplifies that despite the depth of cooperation between our two nations, we are committed to further elevating such partnership,” Ambassador Michii stated.

The Masters courses funded under this arrangement is designed to strengthening administrative capacity, supporting a free and open international order and advancement for climate change, environment and disaster risk reduction policies through Environmental Policies, International Relations and Public policy and Public Financial Management. 

The programme is open to Civil Servants and statutory bodies up to 45 years of age.

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