Nearly 80 percent of companies in Japan's Fukuoka Prefecture, including those operating in semiconductors, automobiles, information technology and manufacturing sectors, are currently facing a severe shortage of technically skilled manpower. To address this challenge, the Fukuoka Prefectural Government has sought Haryana's cooperation in preparing and training youth according to industry requirements so that around 50,000 young people from Haryana can be provided employment opportunities in Fukuoka over the next five years.
In this direction, a high-level meeting under the banner of 'Haryana-Fukuoka Connect 2026' was held at Haryana Niwas, Chandigarh, on Monday to further strengthen cooperation between the Government of Haryana and Japan's Fukuoka Prefecture in the fields of industrial investment, skill development, technical education and human resource development.
Representatives from the Fukuoka Prefectural Government, Fukuoka Institute of Technology and industry leaders held extensive discussions with officials of the Haryana Government, universities and various departments. During the meeting, both sides deliberated on industrial ecosystems, investment opportunities, technical manpower requirements and educational cooperation.
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. Commissioner and Secretary, 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.
She reiterated the State Government's commitment to providing speedy approvals, a single-window system and an industry-friendly environment to investors. She said that during his visit to Japan last year, Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini had expressed commitment towards strengthening bilateral cooperation in various sectors. She added that enhanced cooperation with Japan would also contribute significantly to realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 envisioned by Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi.
She emphasized the need for greater exchanges in the fields of history and cultural heritage so that the people of both regions can better understand each other. She also stressed the importance of collaboration in areas such as green jobs and green fuels.
Commissioner and Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Dr. Amit Kumar Agrawal said to institutionalize 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 said that Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini is personally taking keen interest in preparing technically skilled youth in line with Fukuoka's requirements so that more young people from Haryana can secure international employment opportunities.
He said 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 Japanese language and technical disciplines tailored to Fukuoka's needs will also be introduced in educational institutions across Haryana.
Director General, Foreign Cooperation Department, Sh. Ashok Kumar Meena, said that the department is continuously working to support foreign companies and will collaborate closely with Fukuoka to provide technically proficient manpower. He stressed the need for joint efforts in developing ecosystems around culture, heritage and spirituality, as well as exploring Sister City and Eco-Town models between Haryana and Japan.
Advisor to the Chief Minister in the Foreign Cooperation Department, Sh. 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.
He noted that Haryana is emerging as a preferred destination for international higher education institutions and that the establishment of the University of Southampton campus in Gurugram is a significant milestone in the state's higher education landscape. Sh. Choudhary said that the presence of a reputed Japanese institution in Haryana would not only strengthen educational cooperation between the two regions but also facilitate research partnerships, faculty exchanges, industry-academia collaboration and the development of a globally competitive talent pool.
Both sides emphasized the need to promote academic cooperation between universities, joint research initiatives, student and faculty exchange programmes, and long-term partnerships in technical education. The Fukuoka Institute of Technology also made a presentation on study and research opportunities available for students from Haryana.
Representatives from Haryana's universities, the Higher Education Department, HKRN, the Foreign Cooperation Department and other departments also shared their views and expressed enthusiasm for future collaboration with the Japanese delegation. Prior to the meeting, bilateral discussions were held between the Fukuoka delegation and various universities to explore potential areas of cooperation. The programme concluded with an agreement to prepare a future roadmap and advance collaborative initiatives in a time-bound manner.
Among those present at the meeting were Commissioner and Secretary, Foreign Cooperation Department, Amneet P. Kumar; Commissioner and Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Dr. Amit Kumar Agrawal; Director General, Foreign Cooperation Department, Sh. Ashok Kumar Meena; Director General, Industries and Commerce Department, Sh. Yash Garg; Advisor to the Chief Minister in the Foreign Cooperation Department, Sh. Pawan Kumar Choudhary; Executive Director, International Affairs Bureau, Fukuoka Prefectural Government, Mr. Shoji Hirano; Director, International Policy Division, Mr. Hisashi Kage; Vice Director General, Commercial and Industrial Department, Mr. Shinya Nakano; Director, Technical Human Resource Development Division, Mr. Manabu Hirata; senior officials of the Fukuoka Institute of Technology; Vice Chancellors and representatives of various universities in Haryana; and officers from the Higher Education Department and other departments.