RESUMPTION OF THE JAPAN OVERSEAS COOPERATION VOLUNTEERS (JOCVs) SCHEME IN INDIA

NEW DELHI: August 12, 2005

Based upon the Japan-India Joint Statement signed by H.E. Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, the Prime Minister of Japan, and H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, on 29^th April 2005, Notes regarding the resumption of the JOCVs (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers) to India were signed and exchanged between H.E. Mr. Yasukuni Enoki, Ambassador of Japan to India, and Mr. Vivek Mehrotra, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, at a ceremony held in the Ministry of Finance today.

Dispatch after a long interval of more than 25 years

Dispatch of the JOCVs to India for promoting technical cooperation between the two countries began in 1966. In total, 131 Japanese Volunteers in the field of agriculture, Japanese language teaching, and other various fields were sent to India from 1966 to 1978. Although the scheme remained suspended since 1978, resumption of JOCVs dispatch was agreed in principle between the two Prime Ministers in April 2005.

Hope for Contribution to Social and Economic Development of India

By this arrangement, it is hoped that new Japanese Volunteers will positively contribute to social and economic development of India through their activities, such as Japanese Language and Judo, and will strengthen bilateral friendship, through cross-cultural people-to-people exchange, under the principle of ‘Japan-India Global Partnership’.