Mr. Nasato Nakashima, Counselor for Global Strategy of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), commented that construction investment in Vietnam is expected to continue increasing in the medium and long term. Vietnam has a significant demand for infrastructure development, while Japanese ODA funding remains substantial. Therefore, the construction industry has considerable potential for growth.
“If Vietnam’s construction industry develops further, it will create major business opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises and foreign investors, including Japanese companies,” Mr. Nakashima stated. “Therefore, it is essential to improve the skills and technical expertise of the construction workforce.”
Recognizing the importance of this issue, the two ministries and enterprises from both countries have continued their efforts to build a mutually beneficial partnership. The objective is to provide Vietnam with opportunities to increase the number of skilled engineers and workers with practical experience, while opening business opportunities for enterprises both in Vietnam and abroad. For Japan, the goal is to increase the number of engineers and construction workers in Vietnam who possess Japanese-style management capabilities and to encourage Japanese construction companies to employ Vietnamese engineers and workers.
Mr. Nakashima explained that MLIT is currently proposing several initiatives for the development of Vietnam’s construction workforce. The first is a preparatory training program in Vietnam aimed at improving Japanese language proficiency and basic construction skills before participants travel to Japan to join the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP).
The second initiative involves enhancing and improving the effectiveness of the TITP program in Japan through cooperation between Japanese and Vietnamese construction companies. “This program is particularly important for developing future construction site leaders and supervisors in Vietnam,” Mr. Nakashima emphasized.
The third initiative is the establishment of a database of engineers and construction workers in Vietnam who have completed TITP training in Japan. This database would provide information and facilitate the recruitment of qualified personnel by Japanese companies for projects in Vietnam and other countries.
The fourth initiative is support from the Japanese Government and Japanese enterprises through the Council for the Promotion of Human Resource Development for Vietnam’s Construction Industry.
This Council was officially established on February 26, 2013. On the Japanese side, its members include 11 general contractors and 5 construction contractors, with Taisei Corporation serving as Chair. On the Vietnamese side, the Council consists of a consortium of contractors including LICOGI, VINACONEX, LILAMA, COMA, Song Hong, NIBELC, and ISACO, with LICOGI serving as Chair of the Council.
At the conference, leaders of Taisei Corporation and LICOGI Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two groups of enterprises regarding cooperation in TITP human resource training.
Under the agreement, the consortium of Vietnamese contractors will recruit engineers and workers to participate in preparatory TITP training programs at domestic training institutions. Upon completion of this preparatory training, qualified candidates will be selected to travel to Japan for participation in the TITP program.
After completing the training program in Japan, participants will return to Vietnam and contribute actively to the development of the construction industry. Information about engineers and workers who have completed TITP training will be included in the Vietnamese Council’s database and made available to Japanese contractors.
On the Japanese side, contractors will support the Vietnamese Council in implementing preparatory TITP training and conducting the TITP program itself. Japanese contractors will also use the database as a recruitment resource for labor requirements in projects located in Vietnam and other countries.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Satoru Ogata, Executive Vice President of Taisei Corporation, proposed that Vietnam actively promote the preparatory program, widely publicize student recruitment, and permit the use of vocational training facilities for the program. He also suggested that the Vietnamese Council maintain records of engineers and workers trained under this initiative for five years, share information with the Japanese Council, and prioritize the supply of trained workers to Japanese contractors.
Representing Vietnam, Mr. Vu Tien Giao, General Director of LICOGI Corporation and head of the Vietnamese consortium, proposed that both sides strengthen connections between the Vietnamese and Japanese construction industries through the Council and jointly share information regarding workforce demands. He also called on both governments to support the initiatives proposed by the two sides.
Japanese Enterprises Recommend Solutions to Existing Challenges
At the 4th Vietnam–Japan Construction Conference, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Hue, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, reported that as of January 20, 2013, Japan had invested in 1,835 projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of nearly USD 30 billion, making Japan the largest foreign direct investor in Vietnam.
Japanese enterprises recommended that Vietnam provide clearer policies, development orientations, and planning information for industrial parks and economic zones. They also suggested the construction of additional power plants under various investment models, as well as residential and service facilities surrounding industrial parks, particularly housing areas for investors and foreign experts.
Regarding administrative procedures, legal frameworks, and policies, Japanese businesses recommended that Vietnam standardize administrative procedures and designate clear authorities responsible for processing applications at local levels. They also noted that frequent tax policy changes over the previous five years required more training sessions, guidance, and dialogue with enterprises.
In terms of labor and workforce development, Japanese enterprises proposed the implementation of practical training programs, enhancement of professional knowledge and foreign language skills, and measures to help workers integrate more effectively into Japanese enterprises. They also recommended conducting surveys to identify actual labor market needs, improving the capacity of vocational training institutions, emphasizing practical training at colleges, and facilitating direct engagement between enterprises and final-year students to introduce employment opportunities and recruitment plans.
Source: http://www.baoxaydung.com.vn/news/vn/kinh-te/hop-tac-dao-tao-nguon-nhan-luc.html