Việt Nam-Japan forum paves way for agricultural workforce revolution

Participants at the Việt Nam-Japan workforce cooperation forum in Tokyo. — VNA/VNS Photo

TOKYO — The Việt Nam-Japan quality agricultural workforce cooperation forum, a joint effort between the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), took place in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Japan has been a key partner in Việt Nam's agricultural modernisation, providing assistance in irrigation systems, water-saving technologies, livestock and crop production techniques, and post-harvest processing. Moreover, Japan has invested in the future of Vietnam's agriculture by training numerous officials, engineers and farmers in the application of cutting-edge technologies.

Speaking at the event, Director of the Economic Development Department at JICA Shimokawa Takao lauded Việt Nam as Japan's largest source of labour. He informed that between 2021 and 2023, JICA dispatched agricultural workforce development advisors to the Việt Nam National University of Agriculture to support technical interns aspiring to work in Japan’s agricultural sector.

While the number of Vietnamese technical interns in agriculture in Japan has been declining, Takao expressed hope that the introduction of specific skill assessments in agriculture since March would encourage more Vietnamese to pursue career opportunities there.

Delegates heard presentations from representatives of JICA, the Thuỷ Lợi (Water Resources) University, the Việt Nam National University of Forestry, the Bắc Giang Agriculture and Forestry University, the Việt Nam National University of Agriculture, the Hiroshima University, representatives from Miyazaki prefecture, and Vietnamese and Japanese enterprises.

A discussion session capped off the event, providing delegates with a platform to ask questions and share ideas and information on opportunities and measures to bolster bilateral cooperation in training and using quality human resources in the sector. — VNS