DILI, 19 may 2023 ( TATOLI)– The Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, KIMURA Tetsuya has signed an agreement with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, Adaljiza Magno on the Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) program at the Office of Foresight affairs in Pantai Kelapa Dili.
The agreement was signed to send another six Timorese public service to continue their study at the University of Japan this year.
The Ambassador of Japan to Timor – Leste KIMURA Tetsuya, said the JDS program had been started in 2019 aiming to support young government officials to obtain planning and implementation skills at graduate schools in Japanese prestigious universities and to become critical leaders of this country in the future, and to strengthen the partnership between Japan and Timor – Leste.
Ambassador Kimura Tetsuya, also explained that Japan had conducted bilateral cooperation between Timor – Leste and had supported Timor – Leste’s infrastructure, health, education, and agriculture including the JDS program and the other related program since Timor- Leste get its independence up to now.
” We believe that this program will be a good opportunity for young Timorese leaders not only to gain expertise but also to connect and build networks with young leaders from other Asian nations who are also studying in Japan. This is important, especially as Timor – Leste continues its relentless effort towards full accession to ASEAN, for which Japan has been expressing its support for a long time. We will continue to support the efforts of Timor -Leste in building institutions and capacity of officials to this end,” said Ambassador KIMURA Tetsuya in a statement.
At the same place, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Adaljiza Magno revealed the Program of this JDS signing note is very crucial to send another 6 Public servants to continue the study in Japan.
” With this agreement, we will send another 6 Public Servants to continue their master’s degree and doctoral degree in several universities in Japan by this year. The sixth Public Servants are from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministry of State Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communication, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism Commerce and Industry, and the Ministry of Justice, They will study in Japan for 2 to 3 years,” she said.
She also said that this JDS already become the 5 periods, the first period to the third period had graduated and had returned to Timor – Leste and the fourth period is still in Japan and the sixth period will depart to Japan in August this year.
“Therefore on behalf of the Government of Timor – Leste I thanked the Japanese Government for its all supporting which had supported Timor – Leste so far, hoping that Japan will continue to support Timor – Leste in the future,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, since the JDS project (first period) started in 2019 in Timor – Leste 35 officials have studied in Japan. Among them, 14 have already completed their master’s degree.
The JDS program is supported by the Japanese Government through Japan International Cooperation Agency ( JICA) in Timor – Leste with a total budget worth $ 1.3 million.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
