The government of Japan has extended grant assistance up to 1.752 billion yen (approximately Rs 1.832 billion) to the government of Nepal for the improvement of aviation safety facilities and School Sector Development Programme.

Masashi Ogawa, ambassador of Japan to Nepal, and Lok Darshan Regmi, secretary at the Ministry of Finance, signed and exchanged two separate sets of notes on behalf of their respective governments in the Capital on Wednesday, according to a press statement issued by the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu.

Similarly, Jun Sakuma, chief representative of JICA Nepal and Baikuntha Aryal, joint secretary at the International Economic Cooperation and Coordination Division of the Ministry of Finance signed and exchanged two separate set of grant agreements on behalf of their respective organisations for the smooth implementation of the projects.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuo Kishi were present during the programme.

The Japanese government is extending the assistance as the two countries celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.