The Minutes of Discussion on the Preparatory Survey for the Project for Reconstruction of Bridges on Primary National Highway 1, was signed on 15 January 2015, between Mr. Nobuyuki Tsuneoka, Team Leader JICA , Mr. Karma Galay, Director DoR and Mr. Rinchen Wangdi, Chief, DCD, GNHC. The signing took place at the office of the director after detailed discussions of the minutes. The main components of the project consists of construction of the three bridges along Primary National Highway 1, which include Chuzomsa Zam, Nikachu Zam and Zalamchu Zam. The Director, DOR said that all of the above bridges were built long time ago and have outlived their design life span, and are currently used with restricted load limitations.

A Minutes of Meeting was signed between JICA and the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) on 22 Dec, 2014 for “Community Based Sustainable Tourism Project” to be carried out in Haa Dzongkhag. This is the second project of the kind implemented by RSPN and Japan Environmental Education Forum (JEEF) and supported by JICA. The first project was successfully completed in Phobjikha last year.

February 2015 | Vol. XI -No.1

Japan International Cooperation Agency

Minutes of Discussions signed for reconstruction of bridges on Primary National Highway no 1

JICA schemes

Grant Aid

ODA Loan

Technical Cooperation Projects

Training Programmes

Development Studies

Emergency Disaster Relief

Follow-up Cooperation

Volunteers Program

JICA target areas in Bhutan

Agriculture and rural development

Infrastructure development

Local governance

Social services development

(health, education and IT)

JICA members in Bhutan as of Dec 2014

JICA office staff: 18 (8 Internationals; 10 Nationals)

Experts: 4

Senior Volunteers: 21

JOCVs: 15

Minutes of Meeting signed for second Community based sustainable tourism

JICA Bhutan Newsletter is a monthly newsletter published by the JICA Bhutan Office and updated electronically on the JICA Bhutan website. It serves to better link all JICA Bhutan partners by offering briefs and current news on different sectors of JICA and the RGoB. It is for information purposes only and is not an official document. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of JICA. To join our e-mail based subscription, please contact at <bt_oso_rep@jica.go.jp>. Your comments and feedback are welcome.

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JICA Bhutan office received three new Senior Volunteers and 1 JOCV on 6 January, 2015 for their two years assignment with the RGoB. Two senior volunteers will work for the Public Health Engineering Division in Ministry of Health as Environmental & Sanitary Engineer and Sewerage Advisor while the other senior volunteer will teach Electric and Electronic Apparatus at the College of Science of Technology, Phuentsholing and the JOCV at Damphu lower secondary school, Tsirang as a PE Teacher. We hope that you will have a memorable stay and and we wish you good luck.

Meanwhile 8 JOCVs left Bhutan on 8 January after the successful completion of their two years assignment

The 2nd Joint Coordination Committee Meeting for the Project for Optical F i b e r Te c h n i q u e s i n Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Engineer ing was held at Bhutan Telecom. The meeting highlighted the various achievements and discussed future activities of the Project.

The JICA Alumni Association of Bhutan (JAAB) organized a blood donation program at the Changlimithang Centenary Park on 9 January 2015. A total of 65 donors including Ms. Yumiko Asakuma, Chief Representative came to donate and 55 units were collected. Another program was also arranged at Agriculture Machinery Centre in Paro on 30 Jan and 34 units were collected.

News in Brief

JAAB-Blood Donation Programme

2nd Joint Coordination Commitee Meeting

For more information

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)P.O. Box 217, Doy-bum Lam, Above Memorial Chorten, Thimphu, BhutanTel: (975) 2-322030, 323218, 328074, 324571,324463Fax: (975) 2-323089 Website: <http://www.jica.go.jp/bhutan/index.html>

Newsletter TeamKrishna Subba, Sr. Program OfficerTshering Palden, Program Officer Karun Rai PA To CR