Overview

• An initial cohort of 180 began Japanese-language classes at the North East Skill Centre in Guwahati through ASEAN-ONE, Jaceex and Meiko.
• Training fees were cut from Rs 3.6 lakh to Rs 1.8 lakh, with Rs 1 lakh pre-placement support and Rs 50,000 post-placement assistance bringing candidates’ out-of-pocket cost to about Rs 30,000, and Axis Bank offering loans.
• The programme prepares candidates for Japan’s SSW visa in areas including construction, nursing care, food service, hospitality and manufacturing, starting at JFT Basic/JLPT N4 with higher proficiency such as JLPT N2 typically needed for jobs.
• Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma set a goal of placing at least 50,000 youths from Assam in Japan, with capacity expansion planned beyond the Amingaon hub to additional university centres if demand rises.
• Applicants must be under 45 with at least Class 10, 12 or graduate-level education, and formal overseas placements through the state programme are at the preparatory stage.