KATHMANDU: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) organized a farewell programme here on Thursday for industrial trainees leaving for Japan. These six Nepali girls will go under the Japan Industrial Training Cooperation Organization (JITCO) on Sunday.

Though a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between FNCCI and JITCO was signed six years ago, this is the first time that FNCCI is sending industrial trainees. “Fulfilling the JITCO process is a difficult task, and it takes time to select trainees,” said FNCCI president Kush Kumar Joshi, negating the allegation that FNCCI had failed to implement the MoU for JITCO. The MoU of 2003 gave FNCCI the sole right to send trainees to Japan.

All the six JITCO trainees are from the garment sector. Garment Association of Nepal (GAN) had selected 36 trainees in the first round and JITCO officials shortlisted six from among them. According to the JITCO trainee selection criteria, there must be a ratio of 6:1 for choosing only six candidates per batch. To make it to the shortlist, the trainee must speak Japanese and be familiar with Japanese culture.

Japan's ambassador to Nepal Tatsuo Mizuno congratulated the trainees and hoped their training would benefit the declining Nepali garment industry. “You must work hard and learn skills to support your industry,” he said.

The Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MoLTM) selected 168 manpower agencies for JITCO when FNCCI failed to send trainees. FNCCI chief Joshi remarked, JITCO is not foreign employment as MoLTM and manpower agencies think.” JITCO only supports industrial trainees who have good prospects in their work, he added.