The Business Session 3 of the Sixth India Japan Intellectual Conclave: KIZUNA, titled "Scaling Up Skilling for Talent Mobility: Opportunities and Challenges," underscored a transformative shift in India-Japan bilateral relations, framing talent mobility as a strategic necessity rather than an optional economic exchange.
The session was chaired by Amb. Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa,, Former Ambassador to Japan and Member, Governing Council, Asian Confluence and included the following panelists:
Ms Nidhi Satija, Director (IC), MSDE
Mr Hitoshi Ogino, First Secretary at the Japanese Mission in India, Embassy of Japan – (on HR policy between India and Japan)
Mr Koji Sato, Director General, Japan Foundation
Shri Jagdish Chelani, IAS, Executive Director, Meghalaya State Skills Development Society (MSSDS) Dr Rouhin Deb, Chief Economist, Govt. of Assam
Central to the discussion was the identification of Northeast India, and specifically Assam, as a burgeoning hub for international workforce deployment and human resource exchange. The proceedings detailed a robust multi-stakeholder institutional framework involving the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, integrated with regional initiatives such as the Assam Skill University and the CM FLIGHT program. Beyond public policy, the session emphasized the critical role of private sector intermediaries and Japanese SMEs in providing direct mentorship and practical manufacturing exposure.
Representatives from ARMS Incorporation, Nihon Edutech, NAVIS HR, ASEAN Group and National Skill Development Corporation demonstrated how they are actively operationalizing these pathways in sectors ranging from hospitality and service industries to advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
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