On September 18, Tajikistan’s Ambassador to Japan Hamrokhon Zarifi met in Tokyo with Mr. Shinichi Kitaoka, the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

According to the Tajik MFA information department, the two discussed issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and JICA.

Zarifi and Kitaoka, in particular, discussed implementation of agreements that were reached during a meeting between Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Japanese Prime Minister Sinzo Abe that took place here in October last year.

Zarifi reportedly highly appraised activities of JICA in Tajikistan noting that the Agency has supported enhancement of the country’s agricultural, educational, construction, and energy sectors and promoted development of human resources and development of the private sector.   

The two sides also discussed the implementation of joint projects in Tajikistan and training of Tajik young specialists in the framework of the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS), the source said.   

The Japan International Cooperation Agency is an independent governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance (ODA) for the government of Japan.  It is chartered with assisting economic and social growth in developing countries, and the promotion of international cooperation.

JICA began its cooperation with Tajikistan in 1993 by offering 21 seats for officials in Tajikistan to study in Japan.  Total number of participants in training Tajik officials in Japan is more than 1500 people from early 1993 until April 2015.  In 2006 JICA opened its office in Dushanbe.  In Tajikistan, JICA focuses mainly on the following areas: transportation, energy, health, agriculture, water and capacity building.