Bridging Japan and Nepal with New Kizuna



2024.07.12
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- Okubo Akimitsu Chief Representative Nepal Office
What is your impression of Nepal? Located between China and India, known for its beautiful and sublime nature such as the Himalayas and its many world heritage sites, Nepal is a country that attracts one million tourists a year※ from all over the world. Meanwhile, Nepal is also one of the poorest countries in Asia with a GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita of only $1,337 (approximately 200,000 Japanese Yen). You could easily imagine that such country would have many challenges to its development, such as lack of adequate infrastructure investment and vulnerability to natural disasters.
I was posted to Nepal three years ago. While I found differences from Japan seeing many Hindu temples, and several ethnic groups living their day-to-day lives, I soon felt ease through the positive interactions with Nepali people who all had very good impressions of Japan.
Dating back to 1902, the monarchy had sent eight Nepalis to Japan to study at the expense of their own budget. The aim was to learn advanced technology from not Europe or the United States, but from Japan, a fellow Asian country undergoing its modernization process.
After World War II, the Japanese government established diplomatic relations with Nepal in 1956 and began its economic cooperation in 1969. The list of milestones is endless, but here are some of the most significant examples of Japanese cooperation.
Road infrastructure is integral to Nepal, with a geographical landscape consisting of 80% mountain/hill terrain. To address such needs, JICA has long been building infrastructures which have been the foundation for the nation’s development. A prime example is the Sindhuli Road, , which is a 160-km-long mountain highway connecting Kathmandu to India, opening in 2015 after taking 20 years to build. Another is the Nagdhunga Tunnel, the first traffic tunnel in Nepal's history, which is currently undergoing construction near Kathmandu. The tunnel will shorten travel time from the capital to other major cities in Western Nepal, and reduce traffic accidents as well as risks of landslides. These projects, which resolve traffic related challenges, will be the foundation to build a better economy and society.
Nagdhunga Tunnel Breakthrough Ceremony with the attendance of Prime Minister Dahal
Additionally, while Nepal has abundant water resources, due to challenges in road access and large altitude differences of rivers, hydropower generation, development of water supply and sewerage systems are still insufficient. However, some JICA projects, such as the Tanahu Hydropower Project which supplies electricity utilizing Nepal's abundant water resources are ongoing. Another is the Pokhara Water Supply Improvement Project which supplies safe drinking water to citizens. In addition to infrastructure development, JICA has also been supporting the livelihoods of Nepalis through agriculture, health, and education sectors. JICA has also focused on promoting investment, enacting legislation for the economic growth, and assisting in the areas of climate change and disaster prevention.
Finally, we must not forget the Gorkha Earthquake that occurred in April 2015. In this natural disaster, around 9,000 lives were lost. JICA supported the dispatch of disaster relief teams (rescue teams, medical teams, and Self-Defense Force units) and provided emergency relief supplies. JICA has continued support through development investigations, emergency rehabilitation as well as reconstruction of schools and housing, and provision of seamless assistance from reconstruction and rehabilitation to pre-disaster investment.
In these ways, JICA has continued to support Nepal's several fields of development in various forms.
A Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer working with farmers near Kathmandu.
By the way, did you know that the population of Nepalis living in Japan has been increasing over the past few years? There are currently about 170,000 Nepalis living in Japan. They are the sixth largest community of foreigners residing in Japan. If you live in Japan, you may have seen Nepali restaurants around where you live. Likewise, many Nepalis stay in Japan as foreign students. Additionally, many Nepalis are active in the fields of customer service and nursing care because of their quick acquisition of Japanese language skills. They are often highly regarded by Japanese companies for their hardworking, calm, and friendly nature.
The current population of Nepal is at around 30 million, and around three million of them work abroad in countries including Japan. The total remittance inflow is equivalent to about 25% of Nepal's GDP, and it supports the country’s economic development. It is said that now after the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people going abroad to work is increasing more and more.
If there were a wide range of industries and jobs in their country, would these three million people want to leave their family and relatives in Nepal to work in a distant country? The answer is, probably not. This is why developing a diverse range of industries rooted in Nepal is a pressing issue for the future generation.
JICA has implemented "The Project on Career Development and Entrepreneurship Support Program for International Migrants" since 2023. This project targets Nepalis who were previously international migrants working in Japan, and have returned to Nepal. It aims to create a support system for them to start their own businesses, and to be leaders contributing to the industrial development of Nepal. As a matter of fact, most of the Japanese companies that are considering investing or expanding their business into Nepal have employed Nepalis in Japan before . The international migrants returning from abroad have possibilities to take important roles for strengthening Japan-Nepal ties or Kizuna and attracting more foreign investment into Nepal in the future. We believe that providing meticulous support to these “returnees” who have connections with Japan will enhance the Japan-Nepal relationships.
Counterparts of the project during a farm experience tour in Shizuoka.
Nepal is classified as a Least Developed Country (LDC) by the United Nations, but is scheduled to graduate from this status by 2026. Meanwhile, there are still many challenges the country is facing, so the international community will need to provide support. JICA will continue to conduct its various means of cooperation, ranging from the development of traditional infrastructure, to the new approach for supporting migration workers who have returned to Nepal from Japan.
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