The Government of Japan will allocate up to 358 million yen, or about 2.25 million dollars, to Uzbekistan for the implementation of the JDS human resource development program. On September 28, in Tashkent, Japanese Ambassador Hirata Kenji and Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan Kongratbay Sharipov signed exchange notes for the project.
The program provides for the training of young civil servants from Uzbekistan in master's programs at Japanese universities. After receiving their degrees, graduates must return to the country and participate in the development of state policy and the solution of other state tasks.
The project is being implemented within the framework of gratuitous assistance from the Government of Japan. The grant agreement was signed by Minister Kongratbay Sharipov and the head of the JICA representative office in Uzbekistan, Sakai Mamoru.
The scholarship program falls under the 'Human Resource Development' direction, enshrined in the Joint Declaration of Heads of State — the Tokyo Declaration, adopted after the first 'Central Asia + Japan' summit in December 2025. Japan also expects that the project will contribute to strengthening mutual understanding and bilateral relations.