Speakers urge Japan to share technical knowledge to build skilled workforce
Business leaders and senior government officials on Thursday asked Japan to share its technical knowledge with Bangladesh to build a skilled workforce for emerging industrial sectors.
They urged the country to provide technical training in the form of crash course programs for school and college level students, professionals, and unemployed people who lack the necessary skills.
The stakeholders made the request while speaking at a special lecture on “Japan-Bangladesh Development Cooperation for Enhanced Connectivity”, jointly organized by the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh and Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), at the BIISS auditorium.
Speaking at the event, Mohsin Ali Khan, former Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan, said Japan has provided scholarships for Bangladeshi students only in the masters and PhD level—which are not enough to resolve the crisis of technically skilled manpower.
“The country needs short technical training programs—either inside the country or abroad—for rapid development, wherever Japan can cooperate,” he added.
However, Bangladesh has to import mid-level managers for the apparel, footwear, and other industrial sectors, as the country lacks a technically skilled workforce, stakeholders claimed.
Speakers opined that Bangladesh immediately needs more skill development projects to convert the unemployed into a skilled labour force.
If Japan comes forward to train the country’s youth, they will become a key factor for Bangladesh’s development, attendants in the program said, highlighting the long standing relationship between Bangladesh and Japan.
They came up with the remarks in an open discussion at the end of the lecture.
Waseda University Faculty and Visiting Fellow of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Research Institute, Prof Naohiro Kitano, delivered a lecture as the guest speaker at the event.
“Bangladeshi students are privileged to get admission in Japan’s universities. Apart from academic students, different government officials are also welcomed at top universities of our country,” he said.
Responding to the requests of stakeholders, Kitano said they are taking the issue seriously, and promised to discuss it at a policy-making level.
“We have already started this type of crash course program in Mongolia,” he informed, adding that they are providing vocational training among the country’s school and college students.
“Bangladesh’s economic and social development is now remarkable,” Kitano added.
In his lecture, he focused on mutual cooperation between institutions and governments of Bangladesh and Japan to further deepen their relationship.
He also spoke about Japan’s various connectivity initiatives, especially the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B) and the Transport Network Development for Regional Connectivity.
Kitano hinted of further cooperation with Bangladesh in terms of the energy sector and urban transport network development, waste management, establishment of economic zones, and academic exchange.
Director General of BIISS, Major General AKM Abdur Rahman, delivered the welcome address at the event, saying: “The relationship between Japan and Bangladesh is based on shared values of peace and prosperity.”
Source: Dhaka Tribune.
