The government of Pakistan’s IT-focused Gilgit-Baltistan province and human resources company Plus W sign MOU to help address the shortage of IT engineers at Japanese companies

Plus W announced that it had signed an MOU on 5 May with the government of Gilgit-Baltistan, in northern Pakistan, and would advance cooperation to enable highly skilled IT professionals from the province to work for Japanese companies. As a first step toward developing concrete initiatives to help address the shortage of IT professionals at Japanese companies, the parties aim to strengthen their relationship.

Gilgit-Baltistan is located in northern Pakistan and produces a large number of IT professionals, but the development of employment opportunities remains a challenge. The provincial government is expanding educational programs in cooperation with NUST, KIU and BU, establishing a system for training and supplying IT professionals, and promoting measures including support for IT startups and the provision of soft loans.

Four pillars have been identified for future initiatives: matching Japanese companies with IT professionals from Gilgit-Baltistan; educational programs covering Japanese-language and cultural training; proprietary programs designed with employment at Japanese companies in mind; and events to promote Japanese culture. The provision of employment and internship opportunities at Japanese companies is scheduled to begin from June onward.

In their comments, the governor and the minister of the investment authority expressed their hopes that the initiative would lead to expanded education and employment opportunities in the IT sector and contribute to the development of both countries. Hayashi (林) of Plus W said the company intended to continue promoting cooperation with universities and IT companies, drawing on its experience overseeing the Japan-Pakistan Human Resources Exchange Center since the signing of an MOA with NUST.