<span style="color: #222222;">The Government of Japan has committed Official Development Assistance loan of 30 billion Japanese Yen which is approximately two thousnd one hundred 13 crore rupees 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.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The notes were exchanged today between Additional Secretary in Department of Economic Affairs Dr. C. S. Mohapatra and Ambassador of Japan to India Mr. Suzuki Satoshi 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 Chief Representative of JICA in New Delhi, Katsuo Matsumoto.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">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.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">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.</span><br />''