BY NED GAGAHE
Governments of Japan and Solomon Islands have signed exchange notes for the second batch of the Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS), reaffirming Japan’s ongoing commitment to supporting Solomon Islands’ development through education and capacity building.
Under the agreement, Japan will provide a total of ¥178 million (SBD $10.1) million, in grant aid assistance through its bilateral aid program.
The signing ceremony was held on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) office.
In attendance at the ceremony were Minister of MFAET, Peter Shanel Agovaka, Japanese Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Keiichi Higuchi, MFAET Permanent Secretary, Colin Beck, a representative from the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC) and resident representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki.
The ceremony marks the second batch of scholarships under the JDS program, a flagship initiative designed to build the capacity of future leaders in developing countries. The program offers full scholarships for postgraduate studies in leading Japanese universities.
The first batch of JDS fellows are scheduled to depart Solomon Islands on July 31, 2025, to begin their two-year studies in Japan.
Japanese Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Keiichi Higuchi, said it was an honour to represent the Government of Japan at the signing ceremony.
He described JDS as a vital initiative, noting that like many developing nations, Solomon Islands faces a complex set of development challenges that require strong institutions and technically skilled leaders.
“That is where this JDS comes in.
“The JDS supports human resource development by providing talented young leaders with full scholarships for graduate degrees in Japan. This is a powerful investment that Japan and Solomon Islands collectively make,” he said.
Ambassador Higuchi hopes that returning scholars will make meaningful contributions to the country’s socio-economic development.
“This project embodies Japan’s commitment made at the Tenth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) last year, where Japan pledged support for ‘People-centered Development’ — the JDS project is a direct reflection of that vision,” he added.
The Ambassador shared that he had the opportunity to meet the first batch of recipients at a recent farewell lunch and was encouraged by their excitement and motivation.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Solomon Islands Government, especially MFAET, MNPDC, and JICA, for their valuable facilitation during the initial discussions and documentation stages of this important project,” he said.
MFAET Minister, Peter Shanel Agovaka acknowledged the long-standing relationship between Solomon Islands and Japan, which spans 47 years, and thanked the Government of Japan for its continued support, particularly in infrastructure development, a national priority for Solomon Islands.
He said the SBD $10.1 million grant will benefit Solomon Islands recipients of the scholarship, who will have the opportunity to pursue postgraduate studies in Japan and immerse themselves in Japanese culture and society.
JICA’s Resident Representative in Solomon Islands, Kawasaki Mitsuyoshi, confirmed that the first batch of three JDS fellows will depart for Japan at the end of this month.
He said the second batch of scholars will be selected following signing ceremony that took place on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
Over the course of four years, a total of 20 government officials are expected to pursue master’s degrees in fields like public policy, public financial management, international relations, and climate change policy.
Since JICA began its cooperation with Solomon Islands in 1978, more than 1,300 Solomon Islanders have participated in its short-term training programs, known as Knowledge Co-Creation Programs, across various disciplines.
In addition to these training opportunities, more than 20 Solomon Islanders have undertaken postgraduate studies mainly at the master’s and doctoral levels at Japanese universities since 2016, through JICA’s scholarship schemes such as P-Leads, SDGs Global Leaders, and Agri-Net.
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