The Assam government is looking to facilitate language training and employment opportunities for youths from the state in Japan through a new foreign language training initiative. The government launched the Chief Minister’s Foreign Languages Initiative for Global Human Talent (CM-FLIGHT) on Sunday, in which an initial batch of 180 students will undergo language training through three partners — ASEAN-ONE Co. Ltd, Jaceex Ventures LLP, and Meiko Career Partners Co. Ltd. Speaking at the launch of the initiative, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said it seeks to connect the youth from the state to Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa programme, which was introduced to address labour shortage there, in sectors such as construction, nursing care and food services. He said the initiative is an extension of meetings held with the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, Fukushiro Nukaga, which began with Sarma’s visit to Japan ahead of the state government’s investment summit, Advantage Assam 2.0, earlier this year. Following these meetings, Sarma said, Toshiaki Nishikawa, chairman of ASEAN One Company Ltd., Japan, agreed to reduce the training fees from Rs 3.6 lakh to Rs 1.8 lakh. Under the CM-FLIGHT programme, the government will provide financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh per candidate, provided to training and implementation partners to cover the cost of instruction, orientation, and documentation. After placement, an additional Rs 50,000 will be given per candidate for relocation costs. “After government support under the CM-FLIGHT initiative, the effective fee for candidates would be approximately Rs 30,000, making this opportunity far more affordable and accessible for the youth of Assam,” said Sarma. “There is an understanding between the governments of Japan and India to facilitate the placement of five lakh Indian youths in Japan by 2030. Out of this, the government of Assam has received assurances that 50,000 candidates from Assam will be part of this initiative, which could be extended to one lakh, depending on proactiveness and engagement,” the Chief Minister said.