1. The Government of Japan has decided to extend grant aid for two projects, a total amount of which is up to ￥591 million (approximately US$ 5.36 million or Rp 52.3 billion) to the Republic of Indonesia. This assistance is to support Indonesia’s efforts for human resource development. The diplomatic notes were signed between H.E. Mr. Yutaka Iimura, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Indonesia, and Mr. Herijanto Soeprapto, Director General of Asia Pacific and Africa, Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, in Jakarta on July 25, 2005.

2. The details of the projects;
   This program was designed to strengthen the capacity of Indonesian officials who formulate and implement policies in various areas for the economic and social development in Indonesia and to accept 30 officials and university lectures each year for the Master’s degree courses in 6 fields, namely, Public Administration, Law, Economics, Business Administration, International Relations and Information Technology (Public Policy will be added for the year 2006)

    Currently, the first to the third group are studying at various graduate schools in Japan such as Hitotsubashi University, Hiroshima University and Waseda University. This grant assistance is to disburse expenditures for studying in Japan including tuition fees, scholarships etc. for the students who are currently studying in Japan and expenditures for recruiting and selecting and for studying in Japan for the fourth group.

   After completion of their studies in Japan, they are expected to make use of expertise and knowledge gained in Japan and their human network and to play an important role for economic and social development in Indonesia and for the development of the relationship between Indonesia and Japan.

   Another major Japanese scholarship program provided by Japanese Ministry of Education is focusing on supporting students studying in the various fields of natural science, technology and engineering, while this grant aid is designed to support studies in human science including law and economics.

3. The Government of Japan, as one of the largest donors to Indonesia, would like to continue to assist Indonesia’s various reform efforts.