A high-level bilateral meeting under the banner ‘Haryana-Fukuoka Connect 2026’ was convened in Chandigarh on Monday to address critical labor shortages in Japan. Representatives from the Fukuoka Prefectural Government, the Fukuoka Institute of Technology, and Japanese industry leaders held extensive discussions with Haryana state officials to establish a long-term human resource framework. To institutionalize this partnership, the state has formed the Haryana Sakura Working Group and set up a dedicated institutional help desk.
According to a Haryana government spokesperson, approximately 80% of enterprises in Fukuoka are currently grappling with a severe deficit of technically skilled manpower across the semiconductor, automobile, manufacturing, and information technology sectors. To resolve these shortages, the administrative division has sought Haryana’s targeted cooperation. The resulting initiative aims to secure employment and internship opportunities in Fukuoka for 50,000 students and technical professionals from Haryana over the next five years.
To facilitate this massive talent pipeline, the state plans to utilize the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN) and introduce specialized courses in the Japanese language alongside tailored technical disciplines. Furthermore, Amneet P. Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary of Foreign Cooperation, re-emphasized the state’s commitment to providing an industry-friendly environment and rapid single-window approvals for Japanese investors, building upon Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s diplomatic visit to Japan last year.
