Japan Funds $2.8M Scholarship for Cambodian Officials' Postgraduate Studies

The Japanese government has funded the latest round of a human resource development scholarship programme which enables young Cambodian government officials to pursue postgraduate studies at leading universities in Japan. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Japanese ambassador Ueno Atsushi signed an exchange of notes and related documents for a grant of 416 million yen (approximately $2.8 million) during a July 8 ceremony. The foreign ministry described the grant as reflecting Japan’s strong commitment to supporting Cambodia’s human resource development, promoting the Kingdom’s socio-economic progress and further strengthening the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” between the two nations. Ueno noted that the funding would provide young Cambodian civil servants with opportunities to undertake graduate studies in Japan and return with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to Cambodia’s development. He noted that since the programme was launched in 2001, nearly 600 Cambodian government officials have studied in Japan under the scholarship scheme. The ambassador recalled that since the early 1990s, Japan has played a significant role in supporting Cambodia’s peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction, as well as its nation-building and socio-economic development. Among the many areas of cooperation between the two countries, he highlighted that education has consistently remained one of Japan’s highest priorities because well-qualified human resources form the foundation of national development. “I hope that the scholarship programme we signed today will support Cambodia’s efforts to accelerate human resource development and help pave the way for the country to achieve upper-middle-income status by 2030,” he said. Ueno added that the knowledge, expertise and professional networks scholarship recipients gain while studying in Japan will not only contribute to Cambodia’s national development but also deepen the long-standing friendship and mutual trust between the two countries. “Under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Japan remains committed to supporting Cambodia’s sustainable development. Together with the Royal Government of Cambodia, we will continue creating social value and addressing regional and global challenges,” he said.