SAARC, Japan Sign Addendum for JENESYS 2025 Youth Exchange Program

Kathmandu: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu have signed an addendum to the revised memorandum on guidelines for the SAARC-Japan Special Fund to support the JENESYS 2025 program.

The agreement, signed on 14 August 2025 by SAARC Secretary-General Md Golam Sarwar and Japanese Ambassador to Nepal MAEDA Toru, formalizes Japan’s contribution of JPY 21,288,000 for the initiative.

JENESYS (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) is a long-standing youth exchange programme between Japan and SAARC member states, funded and implemented by the Government of Japan with the support of the SAARC Secretariat. It offers young participants from the region the opportunity to visit Japan and gain exposure to the country’s development model, economic progress, advanced technologies, cultural heritage, and societal values.

Nearly 50 participants from SAARC nations are scheduled to visit Japan in FY2025. Since its inception, the programme has played a vital role in strengthening mutual understanding and friendship between the youth of Japan and South Asia, while fostering knowledge and skills that contribute to the region’s development.