Nearly 80 percent of companies in Japan's Fukuoka Prefecture, spanning semiconductors, automobiles, information technology and manufacturing, are grappling with a severe shortage of technically skilled manpower. To address this, the Fukuoka Prefectural government has sought Haryana's cooperation to train and prepare youth according to industry requirements, aiming to provide around 50,000 young people from Haryana with employment opportunities in Fukuoka over the next five years.
High-level meeting under 'Haryana-Fukuoka Connect 2026'
A high-level meeting under the banner of 'Haryana-Fukuoka Connect 2026' was held at Haryana Niwas, Chandigarh, on Monday to strengthen cooperation between Haryana and Japan's Fukuoka Prefecture in industrial investment, skill development, technical education and human resource development. Representatives from the Fukuoka Prefectural government, Fukuoka Institute of Technology and industry leaders held discussions with officials of the Haryana government, universities and various departments.
During the meeting, the two sides agreed to expand employment, internship and skill development opportunities in Japan for Indian youth, particularly 50,000 students and technical professionals from Haryana, over the next five years.
Haryana government's initiatives to attract Japanese investment
Commissioner and Secretary of the Foreign Cooperation Department, Amneet P. Kumar, briefed the delegation on Haryana government's industrial policies, investment promotion initiatives and the special industrial ecosystem being developed for Japanese companies. Commissioner and Secretary of Industries and Commerce Department, Dr. Amit Kumar Agrawal, said that to institutionalise cooperation between Haryana and Fukuoka, the Haryana Sakura Working Group has been established. A dedicated help desk has also been created to support Fukuoka-based companies and institutions. He said Haryana has implemented a single-window system to facilitate approvals and clearances for investors.
Dr. Agrawal added that through the Foreign Cooperation Department and with the support of Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN), students studying in Haryana's universities and higher educational institutions will get opportunities to contribute towards meeting Fukuoka's skilled workforce requirements. He further informed that new courses in the Japanese language and technical disciplines tailored to Fukuoka's needs will also be introduced in educational institutions across Haryana.
Proposal for Fukuoka Institute of Technology campus in Gurugram
Advisor to the Chief Minister in the Foreign Cooperation Department, Pawan Kumar Choudhary, proposed exploring the establishment of a campus of the Fukuoka Institute of Technology in Gurugram to cater to the educational needs of Japanese professionals and their families residing in Haryana and the National Capital Region.
