Punjab CM Meets Japanese NRIs; Push for Japanese Language in Schools, Investor Dinner-Meet Strengthens Ties

Published on: 06 Dec 2025 at 04:46 PM

Published by: Fact News

Fact News Service

Chandigarh, December 6: In a significant outreach during his visit to Japan, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann engaged with a diverse group of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) based in Tokyo and Osaka, listening to their concerns and recommendations aimed at strengthening both human-capital development and economic collaboration between Punjab and Japan. The meeting, attended by professionals, entrepreneurs, and community representatives, focused heavily on the challenges faced by Indian youth aspiring to build careers in Japan.

A major issue highlighted by Japanese-based NRIs was the need for structured Japanese-language education in Punjab’s school system. Speaking during the interaction, Mann acknowledged that a substantial number of Punjabis seek opportunities in Japan each year, but many face serious hurdles in adapting to workplaces due to the language barrier. NRIs urged the Chief Minister to ensure that Japanese is taught formally in schools so students “arrive prepared, employable, and culturally ready.”

Supporting this view, Punjab’s Industries and Commerce Minister Sanjeev Arora said during the meeting, “If Punjab wants to harness long-term opportunities in Japan, we must prepare our youth with linguistic and technical readiness from school itself. This is a crucial investment in their future.” He added that the state government is exploring structured curriculum collaborations with Japanese institutions.

The NRIs also opened up about broader concerns—ranging from visa assistance and skill-mapping support to grievance redressal mechanisms for overseas workers. Mann assured them of a strengthened NRI affairs framework and invited them to partner actively in shaping Punjab’s new overseas employment vision.

Later in the evening, the Punjab delegation participated in an exclusive investor dinner-meet with Japanese companies spanning manufacturing, technology, mobility, agriculture processing, and renewable energy. The event featured one-on-one discussions highlighting Punjab’s industrial-park ecosystem, updated investment policies, and the government’s focus on ease of doing business.

Industry leaders expressed strong interest in exploring joint ventures, especially in automotive components, precision engineering, and food-tech sectors. The Punjab CM emphasized that Japan remains a priority partner, both for advanced manufacturing and ethical, skill-driven employment. “Our aim is a two-way bridge—technology to Punjab, talent to Japan,” he said.

With the twin engagements—the NRI dialogue and the investor dinner—the visit marked a strategic push toward deeper economic, cultural, and workforce ties between Punjab and Japan.