Japan to open personnel training centres in 22 countries
The Japanese Foreign Ministry has announced plans to set up human resources training centres in 22 emerging and developing nations next fiscal year to teach Japanese business practices like the kaizen production system.
The government said it plans to support Japanese firms planning to start businesses overseas by developing the human resources they need.
Official development assistance is to be used to launch the centres in countries viewed by Japanese firms as business markets with strong potential.
The government is expected to launch the centres in 10 Asian nations including Vietnam, Cambodia and Kazakhstan; 10 African nations such as Ethiopia, Mozambique and Morocco; and Paraguay and Mexico in Latin America.
The centres will teach operators from local manufacturing firms about Japanese managerial methods. Individuals hoping to be engineers will be able to quickly acquire highly qualified skills and technical knowledge by using five-year curricula adopted by technical colleges.
Foreign countries are interested in kaizen and professional education at technical colleges because they believe such factors have contributed to Japan’s rapid economic growth.
The launch of the centres is expected to benefit Japanese companies planning operations overseas since they will be able to quickly secure suitable personnel.
China has stepped up its presence in terms of public works investment in Asian and African nations, but some critics say its use of Chinese workers only brings resources and profits to China.
The government aims to differentiate its approach from China by providing support that emphasises the nurturing of human resources.
