Japan to Provide Nepali Youths Industrial Training

Japan to Provide Nepali Youths Industrial Training
Mr. Kojima, Executive Director of JITCO and former Ambassador to Nepal,and Mr. Silwal, Secretary at MOLTM signing the Agreement On December3, Mr. Mitsuaki Kojima, Executive Director of Japan International Training Cooperation Organization (JITCO) and the former Ambassador to Nepal, and Mr. Narayan Prasad Silwal, Secretary at the Ministry of Labor and Transport Management (MOLTM) signed the agreement on the Industrial Training and Technical Internship Programs in Japan for Qualified Nepali People, on behalf of their respective governments, to facilitate the smooth and orderly implementation of the programs. The programs, which are designed to promote "Human Resources Development" at an industrial level or "Skills Development" in Nepal, consist of an Industrial Training Program (ITP) for one year and a subsequent two-year Technical Internship Program (TIP). ITP and TIP are expected to provide opportunities to qualified Nepali people to acquire practical skills through working as trainees or technical interns in relevant industries in Japan, thereafter returning to Nepal in order to utilize their skills for the promotion of industries in Nepal. Such training programs combined with subsequent internship programs are permitted in 62 designated occupations ranging from textile and garments to machinery, metal and food manufacturing, and so on. JITCO agreed to designate the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) as the sole organization responsible for the selection and dispatch of Nepali trainees and interns to Japan under the auspices of MOLTM. JITCO was established in 1991, with the aim of providing an overall framework in cooperation with the relevant authorities of the countries involved as well as comprehensive support and services to Japanese companies and organizations, that accept foreign trainees and interns. It is under the joint jurisdiction of five Japanese government ministries: "Justice", "Foreign Affairs", "Health, Labor and Welfare", "Economy, Trade and Industry", and "Land, Infrastructure and Transport". It is also supported by several Japanese economic organizations such as Japan Federation of Economic Organizations. The number of JITCO-supported trainees newly entered in 2003 was 39,724. They were mainly from Asian countries such as China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand. This agreement has marked the beginning of a new era of relations at a private sector level between Japan and Nepal. It is expected that the training will greatly contribute to the industrial development of Nepal by enhancing the efficiency, in particular practical skills of Nepali workers.