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ADB Hosts Gathering of Japan Scholarship Program Recipients from Viet Nam

HANOI, VIET NAM (29 September 2005) - About 50 former recipients of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-Japan Scholarship Program (JSP) Scholarship will gather tomorrow for a function in Hanoi.

The gathering will be hosted by the ADB-JSP administrator, Werner Liepach, Principal Director of ADB's Office of Cofinancing Operations, and attended by Atsushi Mizuno, Alternate Director at ADB for Japan, and Vo Truc Dien, Economics/Programs Officer at ADB's Viet Nam Resident Mission.

The ADB-Japan Scholarship Program (JSP) was established in 1988 to provide opportunities for qualified individuals from ADB member countries to pursue postgraduate studies in economics, management, science and technology, and other development-related fields at 20 educational institutions in 10 countries in Asia and the Pacific.

Between 1988 and 2004, Japan contributed more than US$68 million to the JSP. A total of 1,780 scholarships have been awarded to recipients from 34 member countries. Of the total, 1,442 have already completed their courses. Women have received 548 scholarships. The number of new scholarships awarded annually has grown from 49 in 1988 to 157 in 2004. Viet Nam has had the highest number of recipients of the ADB-JSP with 178 scholars.

The gathering gives an opportunity for the Scholarship Administrator to personally meet past recipients and create a network in Viet Nam for scholarship alumni. Past recipients will be able to exchange experiences and views, while the ADB-JSP administrators can learn how the scholars have been able to utilize their advanced degree and training to assist in the development of Viet Nam.

The occasion highlights other facets of the Government of Japan's significant contributions to Overseas Development Assistance in general, particularly through human resource development.

ADB is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. Established in 1966, it is owned by 64 members - 46 from the region.

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