Kathmandu, 22 September: Japan has decided to provide grant assistance of up to Rs two billion  for the implement of the Project for the Improvement of the Rehabilitation of Irrigation System in the eastern Terai. In addition to this, it has agreed to ensure concessional loan assistance of up to the amount of Rs 14.2 billion for the Urban Transmission and Distribution System Improvement Project to Nepal. On Wednesday, Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Kikuta Yutaka and Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar signed  and exchanged the notes relating to extending cooperation. Speaking briefly following the exchange of notes,  ambassador Kikuta said both agriculture and energy are the important sectors for economic development in Nepal. "Agriculture is the major industry in which a large number of Nepal people are engaged. The development of agriculture is indispensable for the overall development of Nepal. Likewise, as Nepal's hydropower generation capability has been improving, it is important to develop the transmission and distribution system to take full advantage of the progress,"he said. He further stated that "The year 2022 marks the 120th anniversary since the first eight Nepali students were dispatched to Japan for their studies. The two projects singed in this commemorative year symbolize the friendship between two countries and will contribute to Nepal's development." People's News Monitoring Service