Sixth ODA/JICA seminar at Thimphu

JICA Bhutan Newsletter is a monthly newsletter published by the JICA Bhutan Office and updated electronically on the JICA Bhutan website. It

serves to better link all JICA Bhutan partners by offering briefs and current news on different sectors of JICA and the RGoB. It is for information

purposes only and is not an official document. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of JICA.

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The sixth ODA/JICA seminar was held in Thimphu on 12 May with participants from various

ministries, Dzongkhags and public corporations. Secretary of GNHC, Karma Tshiteem and

JICA’s director for South Asia Division, Hara Shohei shared the RGoB’s goals and JICA’s poli-

cies respectively.

JICA schemes

� Grant Aid

� Loan

� Technical CooperationProjects

� Training Programmes

� Development Studies

� Emergency Disaster Relief

� Follow-up Cooperation

JICA target areas in Bhutan

� Agriculture and Rural

development

� Infrastructure development

� Local governance

� Social services development

(health, education and IT)

JICA members in Bhutan as of

August 2010

� JICA office staff: 16

(7 internationals; 9 nationals)

� Experts: 7

� Senior Volunteers: 15

� JOCVs: 38

Farmers in the three gewogs of Sephu, Gangtey,

Phobji, and Dangchu gewog under Wangduephodrang

Dzongkhag can access timely and less expensive ser-

vices for the repair of their farm machineries with the

opening of Farmer Support Service Unit at Nobding.

Mr. Tomoki Nitta, the Resident Representative of JICA

Office who attended the opening function informed the

gathering of Dzongkhag officials, Gups, tshogpas and

member of the public that sustainable farm mechani-

zation is an important aspect to make farming not only

viable but attractive for the younger generation. For

this reason the Japanese government is keen to sup-

port agriculture in Bhutan through so many projects

like Farm Road Construction Machinery, supply of

Farm Machineries and support to

farmers’ service units.

The Support Service unit was is brain child of the Japa-

nese Farm Machinery Expert who is currently work-

ing on the project “Strengthening of Farm Mechaniza-

tion”.

Farmers’ Support Service unit opened at Nobding

July- August, 2010

Vol. 10-04

Tel: (975) 2-322030, 323218, 328074, 324571,324463

Fax: (975) 2-323089

E-mail: <jicabt@jica.org.bt>

Website: <http://www.jica.go.jp/bhutan/index.html>

Newsletter Team

Emi Doyle, Project Formulation Advisor

Kinley Dorji, Senior Programme Officer

Zangpo, Technical Officer (General Affairs)

Tshering Palden, Program Officer

For more information

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

P.O. Box 217, Doy-bum Lam, Above Memorial Chorten, Thimphu, Bhutan

Government of Japan hands over project to the Bhutanese government

Mr. Manabu Suzuki, First Secretary from

the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi repre-

sented the Government of Japan to hand

over the projects “Grant Assistance for Un-

derprivileged Farmers (FY 2008)” and

“Non Project Grant Aid” to the Ministry

of Agriculture, Royal Government of

Bhutan on July 8, 2010 at Namgay Heri-

tage Hotel, Thimphu. At the hand over

function Mr. Suzuki expressed the Japa-

nese government’s satisfaction with the ex-

tremely well managed implementation of

the KR II project which ranked Bhutan

amongst the best three of the recipient

countries. He said Japan is happy to be a

partner in Bhutan’s development efforts

and hopes that the equipment under these

two projects will be put into best use.

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Japanese delegation held a Joint Coordination Committee meeting at the Ministry of

Agriculture to update information and current issues related to the project.

Lyonpo (Dr. Pema Gyamtsho) the Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture who received the equipment said that the project is

directly supporting the Bhutanese farmers at grassroots level and therefore one of the most important Japanese assisted

projects.

News in Brief

� Four JOCVs completed their terms in Bhutan and left for Japan:

1) Mr, Terumasa Kitayama, P.E Insturctor for Mongar Lower Secondary School

2) Mr.Haruhiko Hirata, Architect worked for School Planning & Building Division, MoE

3) Ms.Yuka Aidda, NICU Nurse worked iin Mongar regional Referral Hospital, Mongar

4) Ms. Asami Suzuki, Japanese Lnguage Instructor worked in Tourism Council of Bhutan

� Two Short-term JOCVs completed his terms in Bhutan and left for Japan:

1) Mr. Ryohei Saito, Music teacher worked in Kilu Music School, Thimphu

2) Ms. Maki motoyama, ICU Nurse worked in JDWNRH, MoH, Thimphu

� Seven new JOCVs arrived in Bhutan for their two-year assignments:

1) Mr. Takushi Akiyama, Automobile Instructor assigned to Thimphu Institude of Automobile Engineering.

3) Mr. Shinya koike, radio Grapher& Ultrasonographer, assigned to JDWNRH, Thimphu

4) Mr. Atsushi Tachikawa, Architect, assigned to Dzongkhag Engineering Sector, Trashiyangtse

5) Mr. Satosho Hosono, Network Specialist assigned to DIT, Ministry of Information and Comminications

6) Ms. koyo Isoda, Building Architect assigned to office of Vice Chancellor, Royal University of Bhutan

7) Ms. Hiromi Ichikawa, Youth Activities assigned to Department of Youths, Games and Sports, MoE

� One new Short-term Senior Volunteer arrived in Bhutan for his 10 Months assignment:1) Mr. Yoshihisa Okubo, School landscape Architect assigned to School Planning & Building Division, MoE

� One New short term JOCV arrievd in Bhutan for his 10 Months assignment

1) Mr. Tamiki Nakashima, Environment Education Officer assigned to Royal Society for the protection of Nature