By our correspondent
Agartala, March 08, 2019: Japan will extend all possible help for development of Tripura , especially in the fields of communication infrastructures, bamboo related industries, disaster management and human resource development among others.
“We are ready with open mind to support Tripura in its development activities”, said Japanese Ambassador to India His Excellency Kenji Hiramatsu.
Later Mr Hiramatsu met Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and held ‘extensive’ discussion for enhanced Japanese engagements in developing and transforming Tripura.
The Japanese while delivering his speech at TU on the subject titled “Transformed Partnership between Japan and India – Special Strategic and Global Partnership” also expressed interest in collaborating with Tripura University in faculty, student exchange programs with top Japanese varsities as well as introducing Japanese language courses here. The Japanese envoy opined that with the Japanese language course there would be huge scopes for the local youths for employment in Japanese companies as well as in Japan too.
- Japan to help in sectors like – Communication infrastructures, bamboo related industries, disaster management and human resource development etc
He invited the youths specially students to Japan for academic pursuit. “In Japan basic science is highly developed and there were many Nobel laureates. The students can directly learn from them”, he said and then added that language barrier would not be a big hurdle as there are many institutions where courses were provided with high level English language.
Mr Hiramatsu maintained that Indo-Japan partnership –a relationship which had begun in 8th century with the visit of Indian Buddhist Monk Bodhisena to Japan– was growing manifold in various sectors and extending to newer areas in a faster mode. He touched upon almost all sectors to elaborate the entire gambit of Indo-Japan co-operations.
“Japanese companies are coming in a big way to India. So far Japanese companies were supporting mostly in manufacturing industries. But now in lot of new areas of investments are expanding such as retailing, service sectors, Banking, IT, start ups etc.
Knowledge of Japanese language and also of Japanese culture would thus pave new vistas of employment for the Indian youths.
- Students, faculty exchange programme mooted. TU to send students to Japan.
Vice Chancellor of Tripura University Prof V L Dharurkar in response said next year 20 students from the varsity would be sent to Japanese Universities as part of the proposed exchange programme and also a Japanese language centre would be opened here in the Tripura University. He also said that varsity would take steps for faculty exchange programmes with best of Japanese universities soon.
Prof Dharurkar said the UGC and HRD agreed to opening up of four departments in Tripura University –Archeology, Tourism, Liberal Arts and Dramatics & Performing Arts. He felt Archeology and Tourism would be two important areas where Indo-Japan collaboration might go to a new level and Tripura in these two areas could play key roles. He also requested the Ambassador to help boost Japanese tourist inflow into the state.
The Japanese envoy who elaborately dwelt on almost all aspects of Indo-Japan collaboration with special references to Automobile, high speed railways, metro rails, Highways and road communications said, his government was keen to take part in the development process of the North East India and as part of it, Tripura.
“The North East India with its proximity to South East Asian countries is a very strategically important region not for India but also for us. There are also ethnic similarities with us-the Japanese”, said Mr Hiramatsu.
- “We can cooperate for maximum use of bamboo in the state. Japanese experts recently came to Tripura to discuss with local committee people as to how Japan could support production of more value added bamboo handicrafts in the state”, Mr Hiramatsu.
“There are many ways to support this region. One way is to support connectivity projects. With top level technologies Japan is supporting governments of the region building highways in Mizoram, Meghalaya and we have made commitment to help construction of bridge in Assam too. This bridge will be the longest bridge in entire India. There were also activities in Sikkim. Apart from that we are also extending support for sustainable forest management for maximum utilization of forest resources in Tripura”, said Mr. Hiramatsu adding that Japan was keen to help Tripura develop bamboo based industries.
“Bamboo is important for increasing the revenue of the local people. In Japan also we use Bamboo for construction works. We can cooperate for maximum use of bamboo in the state. Japanese experts recently came to Tripura to discuss with local committee people as to how Japan could support production of more value added bamboo handicrafts in the state”.
The ambassador said, apart from forest, agriculture, land slide prevention, disaster management were some of the areas where Japan could help the state government.
“ Disaster managements is one other area where we are focusing on in regards to our cooperation in the North Eastern part of India”, he said and added that Japan which faced disasters like earth quake, flood , typhoons etc. could with their sophisticated technology help North East region , especially Tripura, in land slip prevention.
“These are not the end of the story. We are open-minded to the requests coming from the state government. I am going to meet the Chief Minister and we shall discuss what kind support or cooperation we can proceed with in the future”, he added.
Apart from these people to people interactions and cooperation were also on top priority of the Japan government, especially in care giving, nursing to be provided in Japan. He said Japan was interested to have Indian care givers under various facilities and companies in their land. Mr Hiramatsu also emphasized on the need of North East India in promoting tourism.
After arrival in the University the Ambassador planted trees in the campus. Welcome address was given Registrar K B Jamatia and vote of thanks by Prof Satyadeo Poddar.
