Press Release

New Delhi, January 24, 2022, Monday: On International Education Day, the Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA) shares its aim of strengthening education as a public endeavor and guiding the digital transition, as well as unlocking the potential of every individual to contribute to collective well-being. JICA has been consistently contributing to bringing positive change among the children and youth of India. The agency's most recent efforts include (1) training at Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology, (CIPET) Lucknow, (2) Technical Cooperation Project at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH), and (3) ongoing Achhi Aadat campaign.

In relation to (1) above, the Government of India is promoting the enhancement of export competitiveness of the manufacturing industry and expansion of employment with the "Make in India" policy, aiming to generate 100 million jobs in the sector by 2022. The "Skill in India" policy is aimed at promoting human resource development to achieve the goal of "Make in India".

To support the initiative, JICA under the project of "Verification Survey with the Private Sector for Disseminating Japanese Technologies for Training Engineers for Modular Dies in India", has introduced a training programme. Gifutadaseiki Co., Ltd., one of the Japanese leading plastic mould company with unique technology of modular mould, is selected to introduce their technology to India, through training of trainers and support for training of students at CIPET Lucknow. The training programme under CIPET-GIFUTADASEIKI project was conducted to verify the effectiveness of modular mould through demonstration of engineer training for base-unit of modular mould.

During the JICA training programme, 25 students were trained under the project scheme, 2 of them were trained at Gifutadaseiki's plant in Japan. CIPET institute introduced the training programme to the curriculum to help students improve their technical abilities in the modular manufacturing process. Even after the completion of the JICA project, 35 students from two batches are undergoing the same training. Due to COVID restrictions, the majority of the theory is taught online, with a total of 52 students benefiting from the training programme.

Speaking on the occasion of International Education Day, Mr. SAITO Mitsunori, Chief Representative, JICA India, said, "JICA is happy to contribute towards helping India improve the share of manufacturing to its GDP by 2022 through one of its most recent initiative that aims to introduce new technology in the country and train students in manufacturing industry projects. Together Japan and India aim to upskill its youth for greater growth and development of the economies."

Further, as regards (2) above, JICA has recently signed a Record of Discussion (RoD) for a Technical Cooperation Project at IITH and this cooperation is one of the most successful examples of its holistic approach. The aim was to establish a sustainable platform for academic and industrial collaborations between India and Japan. Several initiatives like launching the Japan Desk at IITH, student exchange programmes, supporting collaborative activities with Japanese educational and research institutes, and providing JICA research funds to enhance research and technology development are implemented. This will add significant values to the ongoing loan project for constructing campus buildings and providing high-end research equipment in IITH.

Lastly with respect to (3), JICA has been educating the youth and children of India on hygienic practices through its ongoing ‘Achhi Aadat Campaign' in order to raise awareness about hygienic practices for the prevention of not only the Covid-19 virus but also all other infectious diseases. Through the campaign, JICA has reached many citizens by conducting various innovative activities, utilizing materials and video contents developed in partnership with Japanese private companies, in schools, hospitals and village communities in India.

About JICA

Established, by a specific law, as an incorporated administrative institution under the Government of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aims to contribute to the promotion of international cooperation, as a sole Japanese governmental agency in charge of ODA implementation. JICA is the world's largest bilateral donor agency. JICA works as a bridge between Japan and emerging countries, and provides assistance in forms of loan, grant and technical cooperation so that the emerging countries can strengthen their capabilities.

• JICA India Office Web
• JICA India Brochure
• JICA Facebook Page (external link)

For further information, please contact:

JICA India Office
Shusaku Takada / Aishwarya Mishra
+91 11 49097000
Takada.Shusaku@jica.go.jp
Mishra-Aishwarya@jica.go.jp

Edelman India
Rakhi Aurora
(+91) 95990 67185
Rakhi.Aurora@edelman.com