New Delhi, India: India and Japan have stepped up cooperation on skill development and workforce mobility, with a stakeholder consultation in New Delhi focusing on Japanese language training, industry-led skilling, employer engagement and preparations for the Employment for Skill Development Programme (ESDP).
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) convened the India-Japan Stakeholder Consultation on Skill Development on August 14, 2026. Representatives from Indian ministries, state governments, training institutions and sending organisations joined Japanese government officials, industry representatives, recruitment agencies and training partners for discussions on strengthening pathways for Indian workers seeking employment opportunities in Japan.
The consultation builds on the Action Plan for India-Japan Human Resource Exchange and Cooperation, released during the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit in 2025. Discussions focused on making existing and upcoming skill pathways more closely aligned with Japanese employers’ requirements.
The programme examined three major areas. The first looked at pathways under the Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP), Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) and the upcoming ESDP, including implementation structures and preparedness for the new programme. The second focused on the human resource exchange action plan, with particular attention to Japanese language training, sector-specific curricula, assessments and coordination between governments, industry and training institutions.
The third session brought Japanese recruitment companies and employers directly into discussions with Indian stakeholders. The conversations covered occupational skills, language proficiency, workplace readiness and candidate support, with participants stressing the need to align training more closely with actual industry demand.
A key outcome was the proposed development of a road map for skilling Indian workers for Japanese requirements. The roadmap is expected to clarify how ESDP will work alongside existing TITP and SSW pathways while bringing together candidate mobilisation, technical training, Japanese language and cultural preparation, assessments, employer engagement and pre-departure readiness.
The consultation also identified several implementation priorities, including expanding Japanese language training, strengthening assessment infrastructure, improving awareness of verified employment pathways and improving coordination among states, sending organisations, training institutions and industry.
The roadmap will include short-, medium- and long-term actions, with responsibilities assigned across ministries, state governments, implementing agencies, training institutions and industry. It will also include measurable milestones and a governance and review mechanism.
The consultation brought together organisations including the Embassy of Japan in India, Japan Foundation, JICA, JETRO, JITCO, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, alongside Indian government and skill-development institutions.
The initiative is aimed at creating more structured and reliable workforce pathways between India and Japan while ensuring that candidates receive the technical, language and workplace preparation required for employment in Japan.
Source: This article is based on an official press release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India
Press Release: Press Information Bureau
