The chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed hope that Japan would welcome Indian talent, not limited to highly skilled IT professionals, to help address labor shortages. The importance of Japanese-language education in India and the appeal of the local market were also discussed.
Kobayashi Ken (小林健), chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said he expects Japan to welcome Indian talent, not limited to highly skilled IT professionals with digital technology and AI skills, as one way to help address Japan's labor shortage. He made the remarks at a press conference in New Delhi during a mission to India, citing the country's large population as one of the attractions of the Indian market.
Chairman Kobayashi cited the language barrier as a challenge in accepting foreign talent and highlighted the importance of Japanese-language education. More foreign nationals are working at small and medium-sized enterprises, making the development of suitable talent and the establishment of systems for accepting foreign workers management challenges.
He explained that companies in the anime industry and other new sectors are also seeking to enter India, given the size of the Indian market. At the same time, he said that complex administrative procedures and land acquisition create barriers to market entry, and indicated that he would continue to call on the Indian central and state governments to improve the business environment.