The Government of Japan has committed Official Development Assistance loan of an amount of JPY 30 billion (approx. ₹ 2,113 crore) for a programme loan to support India's efforts at providing social assistance to the poor and vulnerable households, severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Notes were exchanged today between Dr. C.S. Mohapatra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India and Mr. Suzuki Satoshi, Ambassador, Embassy of Japan to India for COVID-19 Crisis Response Support Loan for Social Protection. Subsequent to the Exchange of Notes, Loan Agreement for this programme loan was signed between Dr. Mohapatra and Mr. Katsuo Matsumoto, Chief Representative, JICA, New Delhi.

This programme loan aims to support India’s efforts to provide coordinated and adequate social protection to the poor and vulnerable across the country against the severe impacts of COVID-19 pandemic.

India and Japan have had a long and fruitful history of bilateral development cooperation since 1958. In the last few years, the economic cooperation between India and Japan has strengthened and grown into strategic partnership. This further consolidates and strengthens the Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan.

Official Development Assistance loan supports expanded social protection for poor and vulnerable households affected by COVID-19. Japan committed an Official Development Assistance programme loan to support coordinated social protection measures for poor and vulnerable households impacted by COVID-19; Exchange of Notes was completed and a Loan Agreement executed between Indian officials and the Japan International Cooperation Agency representative to establish the financing and legal framework for the programme.