The government of Japan has agreed to provide a grant assistance of 58,10,00,000 Japanese Yen (approximately NRs. 372,421,000) to His Majesty's Government of Nepal for the Construction of Primary Schools to support HMG's Education for All program. The Exchange of Notes to this effect were signed and exchanged between His Majesty's Government of Nepal and the Government of Japan at the Ministry of Finance, Kathmandu today.

This grant assistance has been provided to His Majesty's Government of Nepal under the Japanese grant scheme concerning Japanese economic cooperation for the execution of the project for construction of primary schools to support "Education for All" program. This grant will be used within March 31, 2006.

The Government of Japan has been extending its support to improve the physical facilities of the primary schools since the year 2003. In this connection, this grant provided by Japanese Government will be instrumental for the development of physical infrastructure of the primary schools of nine districts of the kingdom.

The Exchange of Notes to this effect were signed by Mr. Bhanu Prasad Acharya, Secretary, Ministry of Finance and His Excellency Mr. Tsutomu Hiraoka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Nepal on behalf of their respective governments.

His Majesty's Government of Nepal has expressed its sincere appreciation to the Government of Japan for this assistance and also for its continued support in the educational development of Nepal.