Bangladesh on Friday highlighted its importance as a highly potential source country of skilled human resources for Japan which requires about 11 million foreign workers by 2040.
The Embassy of Bangladesh in Tokyo organised a seminar followed by a business matching event at a conference centre in Nagoya city of Japan.
The event was supported by the Japan International Trainee and Skilled Worker Cooperation Organisation.
Senior secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates鈥� Welfare and Overseas Employment Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan attended the event as chief guest.
About 250 manpower-sending and recruiting organisations participated in the seminar.
Bangladesh鈥檚 ambassador to Japan Md Daud Ali assured full cooperation from the Bangladesh Embassy in facilitating the deployment of skilled Bangladeshi workers to Japan.
Neyamat highlighted a statistical comparison of the human resource situation in Japan and Bangladesh noting the fact that Japan is projected to require around 11 million foreign workers by 2040.
He said that Bangladesh currently had a surplus of about 25 million working-age individuals 鈥� a trend expected to continue until 2040.
The senior secretary vowed to take all possible steps to fill Japan鈥檚 11 million labour shortage by 2040.
He also referred to the designation of 33 Technical Training Centres (TTCs) dedicated to preparing Bangladeshi manpower for the Japanese labour market, adding that the number could be increased if necessary.
The senior secretary mentioned the establishment of a 鈥楯apan Cell鈥� within the ministry as a coordination and communication point specifically focused on the Japanese labour market.
Neyamat expressed hope that both countries would benefit from the joint efforts of Bangladeshi and Japanese recruiting organisations.
Ambassador Shigeo Matsutomi, senior vice-president of JITCO, made a presentation on global labour market trends and the employment prospects in Japan.
Later, four instruments were signed between Bangladeshi manpower-sending agencies and Japanese recruiting companies.
Officials of the Bangladesh Embassy were also present at the seminar.
