Bhutan and Japan have strengthened their cooperation in human resource development with the signing of a new grant agreement that will enable young Bhutanese government officials to pursue postgraduate studies in Japan.
Under the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS), the Japanese government will provide a grant of ¥171 million to fund seven master’s-level courses for Bhutanese officials. The Exchange of Notes was signed in New Delhi on August 25 by Bhutan’s Ambassador to Japan, V. Namgyel, and Japan’s Ambassador to Bhutan, Keiichi Ono.
The agreement is the first Exchange of Notes under the third phase of the JDS programme, which will run from 2026 to 2029. The initiative is aimed at developing a pool of public officials equipped with specialised knowledge and skills to contribute to Bhutan’s governance and long-term development priorities.
The scholarships will cover areas considered important to Bhutan’s development, including economic policy development, public policy and administration, international relations, and agriculture and rural development. The programme is expected to contribute to strengthening the country’s administrative capacity while supporting sustainable economic growth.
Japan has been providing JDS scholarships to Bhutanese officials since 2018. Over the years, 59 officials have benefited from the programme, gaining opportunities to undertake advanced studies at Japanese universities. Another 23 Bhutanese officials are currently pursuing master’s and doctoral programmes in Japan.
The next round of scholarships will be for the 2027 intake. The selection process is scheduled to begin in September 2026 and will continue until April 2027.
The latest agreement builds on the longstanding development partnership between Bhutan and Japan, with human resource development remaining an important component of bilateral cooperation. By providing officials with exposure to specialised academic training and international perspectives, the programme seeks to strengthen institutional expertise in areas central to Bhutan’s future economic and administrative development.
