METI to Hold Explanatory Meetings for Inviting Applicants for the Overseas Internship Project- Launching of FY2013 Internship Project for Fostering Japan’s Internationally Ready and Able Human Resources -

As overseas emerging markets are rapidly growing and the globalization of economy is advancing, from the perspective of achieving sustainable growth of Japanese enterprises in the future, it is a critical challenge for Japan to aim to win new business deals by proactively expanding Japan's businesses overseas, not just remaining in internal business areas in Japan. Above all, overseas expansion of Japanese SMEs and regional enterprises is an urgent challenge for Japan to overcome in the context of the accelerating globalization of the world economy. In addition, taking advantage of Japanese enterprises' experience and strength, it is necessary for Japan to increase the number of orders for infrastructure business deals from developing countries, another important future challenge. On the other hand, there is an insufficient number of young human resources in Japan who are familiar with overseas business environments and processes to succeed in business deals as well as being able to engage deeply and negotiate with business partners overseas. In this context, the need is growing toward fostering human resources who are ready and able to take a leading role on the global business stage.

In response to this need, in this project, METI will dispatch young human resources from Japan to government-related organizations and local enterprises or entities in developing countries for overseas practical internships (on-site training at enterprises), through which Japan aims to strengthen economic relationships with those countries, as well as to foster human resources who will be able to play a role to bridge business relationships developed between the countries to achieve the following project goals:

1. Encouraging SMEs to develop their businesses overseas (market research, discovering business partners in partner countries, developing human resources, etc.)
2. Promoting establishment of networks and cooperative relationships with government-related organizations or local key persons in partner countries that are important to succeeding in infrastructure business deals
3. Promoting creation of connections with government-related organizations that are important to succeed in businesses in emerging countries
4. Promoting development of Japanese students as human resources who have potential to become global leaders in the future

For details of the project, how to apply, and other information, visit the following website from May 20, 2013:
The Overseas Human Resources and Industry Development Association (HIDA) website:
http://intern.hidajapan.or.jp/ (in Japanese)

METI plans to hold meetings to explain the invitation of applicants in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. For details of the meetings, how to apply, and other information, visit the following website:
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) website:
http://www.jetro.go.jp/events/item/20130507927/ (in Japanese)

*Please note that registration for the meetings will be closed on the following days:

Tokyo: Thursday, May 23

Osaka and Nagoya: Friday, May 24

This project will be organized by HIDA and JETRO, which were selected through the public offering.

• HIDA: http://www.hidajapan.or.jp/hida/en/index.html
• JETRO: http://www.jetro.go.jp/

May 17, 2013

Technical Cooperation Division, Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau