The Japanese Embassy in Ashgabat announced the launch of a new grant competition from the 1970 World Expo Commemoration Fund (JEC Fund) on its official website.

Applications will be accepted from September 1 to 30, 2026, and the total program budget for fiscal year 2027 will be approximately 135 million yen. The maximum grant per project is 5 million yen.

National governments, local authorities, and organizations implementing projects in the public interest are eligible to participate in the grant.

Individuals and commercial companies are not eligible.

The following projects are supported under the competition:

• International cultural cooperation – exchanges, events, and strengthening friendships between countries.

• Educational initiatives – projects in the fields of education and academic research.

• Research projects – research aimed at developing international understanding.

Detailed terms of participation can be found here.

The JEC Fund was established with proceeds from the Osaka exhibition and has long supported projects that promote international cultural exchange, education, and scientific collaboration.