New Delhi, January, 2024.

In a significant move aimed at fostering greater collaboration between India and Japan, NSDC International (NSDCI), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), and Nippon Travel Agency Co., Ltd., a global workforce solutions company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today. The objective of this partnership is to create awareness in the Japanese market regarding the hiring of skilled professionals from different sectors in India. This initiative addresses the growing demand for diverse talent in Japan and seeks to facilitate a seamless recruitment process.

This landmark agreement was officially inked between Mr. Ajay Kumar Raina, Director & Chief Operating Officer of NSDCI, and Mr. Keigo Yoshida, Executive Officer & Chief of Headquarters at Nippon Travel Agency.

Speaking on this initiative, Mr. Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC & MD NSDC International, said, "Our partnership with Nippon Travel marks a significant milestone towards fostering closer ties between India and Japan. Recognizing the vital role language plays in cross-cultural understanding, we will actively support and promote Japanese language training in India. By addressing the importance of linguistic skills, we aim to enhance communication and collaboration between professionals from both nations. This initiative is a testament to our shared vision and commitment to excellence, underscoring our resolve to contribute to the economic and cultural growth of both the countries".

Mr. Keigo Yoshida, Executive Officer & Chief of Headquarters at Nippon Travel Agency, expressed“This partnership will facilitate economic and cultural bridges between the two countries and further enrich Japan's diverse labour market.We look forward to welcoming India's hard-working and talented human resources to contribute to Japanese society and grow together.We look forward to further deepening the friendship between Japan and India”.

NSDC International and Nippon Travel joined forces to support the hiring of Indian skilled candidates, aligning with the specific demands of Japanese companies. This joint effort is envisioned to bridge the talent gap and enhance workforce mobility.Further, NSDCI and Nippon Travel will organize joint seminars and workshops in both India and Japan. These events will focus on skill development, workforce mobility, and other relevant areas, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration.

India and Japan have collaborated on various skill development initiatives, such as the India-Japan Skill Development Council, which promotes cooperation in vocational education, training, and human resource development. In 2016, the nations signed the "Manufacturing Skill Transfer Promotion Programme” agreement for training 30,000 persons over 10 years with Japanese style

manufacturing skills and practices. Thirty-five Japan-India Institutes for Manufacturing (JIM) and 11 Japanese Endowed Courses (JEC) have been established in different states across India.

In 2017, The TITP MoU was signed to significantly expand the bilateral cooperation between India and Japan in the skill development sector. Under the program, selected candidates from India

undergo three-to-five years of internship in Japan, after which they are required to return to India and utilize the skills acquired by them in Japan.

Similarly, ‘Specified Skilled Worker’ was introduced by the Government of Japan in April 2019, under which aspiring Indian youth can take up a job and stay in Japan. Japan introduced ‘Specified Skilled Worker’ to address the severe labour shortages in Japan by accepting foreign human resources with specific expertise and skills. As of July 2022, Japan has signed SSW Memorandum

of Cooperation (MoC) with 15 nations including India. India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in January 2021 for the implementation of ‘Specified Skilled Worker’ between India and Japan.

NSDC International, 100% subsidiary of NSDC, is catering to a comprehensive list of sectors facilitating skill development and training initiatives aimed at fostering employment opportunities and driving economic expansion. They include textile, healthcare, construction, hospitality, and railways.

India and Japan's joint initiatives in skill development extend far beyond their national boundaries. They both embrace a shared vision of fostering international mobility as a central pillar of their partnership. This collective vision is rooted in the firm belief that a globally competent workforce is paramount in tackling the challenges and capitalizing on the opportunities of the 21st century.