Press Release

Highly motivated young and promising Tanzanian students left for Japan today on 27th September to pursue their Master's Scholarship Program provided by the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), promising to digest their knowledge for the development of the country.

The 14 students will study their Master's Degrees under the "African Business Education Initiative for Youth" (ABE Initiative) and SDGs Global Leaders Program.

Glory Mbilinyi from the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) who goes to International University of Japan (IUJ), pursuing Master's in Business Administration (MBA) wishes to learn about the Japanese Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's), Private Sector at large and Business in Japan and possibly working with Japanese companies during her internship to understand more about their business models and practices.

"I want to visit Japanese Industrial areas, Largest Companies (eg. Toyota, Sony) and Tourist attraction areas. If there is an Apex body of private sector in Japan, I wish to meet with their secretariat" she noted.

On his part, Edson Vedasto from Ministry of Finance and Planning who is to pursue Master's of Science in International Cooperation Policy Development Economics at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) also added; "I thank the Government of Japan through JICA for this opportunity to study in Japan because it's a rewarding journey for my career."

Since 2014, 90 Tanzanians have benefitted from the scholarship program, whereby 88 participants have successfully completed the program and returned to Tanzania.

JICA's Chief Representative said during the send-off ceremony that during their stay in Japan, they will have opportunities to learn Japanese experiences of Industrialization, modernization, mechanization and so forth, as well as participating in internship programs at various Japanese companies.

"After their graduation, they will return to Tanzania to build stronger business relations between Tanzania and Japan with deeper impact on the economy of Tanzania," he noted.

Mr. Exavier Daudi, Deputy Permanent Secretary, President's Office, Public Service Management and Good Governance thanked JICA for the sponsorship, saying that the students will be useful to Tanzania development agenda.

"Through this opportunity your government is optimistic that, once you return from your studies, you are expected to contribute and help develop Tanzania so as to achieve its development initiatives," he told the students.

"What is ABE Initiative?"

The ABE Initiative was launched at the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) in Japan in 2013. In reverence of the late former Prime Minister, Mr. Shinzo ABE, the Government of Japan so far provided 1,500 youths in Africa with opportunities to study for master's degree at Japanese universities and experience internships at Japanese companies. Through this program Japan aims to strengthen support for the ongoing dynamic growth of Africa with stronger public-private partnerships.

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Mbonisewa Mtambalike
JICA Tanzania Office, P.O. Box 9450, Dar es salaam
Tel. +255-22-2113727-30, Mobile: +255 699 850499
Email: Mtambalike-Mbonisewa@jica.go.jp