Nearly 80 percent of companies in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture, including those operating in semiconductors, automobiles, information technology and manufacturing sectors, are currently facing a severe shortage of technically skilled manpower. To address this challenge, the Fukuoka Prefectural Government has sought Haryana’s cooperation in preparing and training youth according to industry requirements so that around 50,000 young people from Haryana can be provided employment opportunities in Fukuoka over the next five years.
In this direction, a high-level meeting under the banner of ‘Haryana-Fukuoka Connect 2026’ was held at Haryana Niwas, Chandigarh, on Monday to further strengthen cooperation between the Government of Haryana and Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture in the fields of industrial investment, skill development, technical education and human resource development. Representatives from the Fukuoka Prefectural Government, Fukuoka Institute of Technology and industry leaders held extensive discussions with officials of the Haryana Government, universities and various departments.
During the meeting, both sides deliberated on industrial ecosystems, investment opportunities, technical manpower requirements and educational cooperation. The two sides agreed to expand employment, internship and skill development opportunities in Japan for Indian youth, particularly 50,000 students and technical professionals from Haryana, over the next five years.
Commissioner and Secretary, Foreign Cooperation Department, Amneet P. Kumar briefed the delegation on Haryana Government’s industrial policies, investment promotion initiatives and the special industrial ecosystem being developed for Japanese companies. She reiterated the State Government’s commitment to providing speedy approvals, a single-window system and an industry-friendly environment to investors.
She said that during his visit to Japan last year, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had expressed commitment towards strengthening bilateral cooperation in various sectors. She added that enhanced cooperation with Japan would also contribute significantly to realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She emphasized the need for greater exchanges in the fields of history and cultural heritage so that the people of both regions can better understand each other. She also stressed the importance of collaboration in areas such as green jobs and green fuels.
Commissioner and Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Dr. Amit Kumar Agrawal said to institutionalize cooperation between Haryana and Fukuoka, the Haryana Sakura Working Group has been established. A dedicated help desk has also been created to support Fukuoka-based companies and institutions. He said Haryana has implemented a single-window system to facilitate approvals and clearances for investors.
Dr. Agrawal said that Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is personally taking keen interest in preparing technically skilled youth in line with Fukuoka’s requirements so that more young people from Haryana can secure international employment opportunities. He said that through the Foreign Cooperation Department and with the support of Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN), students studying in Haryana’s universities and higher educational institutions will get opportunities to contribute towards meeting Fukuoka’s skilled workforce requirements. He further informed that new courses in Japanese language and technical disciplines tailored to Fukuoka’s needs will also be introduced in educational institutions across Haryana.
Director General, Foreign Cooperation Department, Ashok Kumar Meena, said that the department is continuously working to support foreign companies and will collaborate closely with Fukuoka to provide technically proficient manpower. He stressed the need for joint efforts in developing ecosystems around culture, heritage and spirituality, as well as exploring Sister City and Eco-Town models between Haryana and Japan.
Advisor to the Chief Minister in the Foreign Cooperation Department, Pawan Kumar Choudhary, proposed exploring the establishment of a campus of the Fukuoka Institute of Technology in Gurugram to cater to the educational needs of Japanese professionals and their families residing in Haryana and the National Capital Region. He noted that Haryana is emerging as a preferred destination for international higher education institutions and that the establishment of the University of Southampton campus in Gurugram is a significant milestone in the state’s higher education landscape.
Choudhary said that the presence of a reputed Japanese institution in Haryana would not only strengthen educational cooperation between the two regions but also facilitate research partnerships, faculty exchanges, industry-academia collaboration and the development of a globally competitive talent pool.
Both sides emphasized the need to promote academic cooperation between universities, joint research initiatives, student and faculty exchange programmes, and long-term partnerships in technical education. The Fukuoka Institute of Technology also made a presentation on study and research opportunities available for students from Haryana.
Representatives from Haryana’s universities, the Higher Education Department, HKRN, the Foreign Cooperation Department and other departments also shared their views and expressed enthusiasm for future collaboration with the Japanese delegation. Prior to the meeting, bilateral discussions were held between the Fukuoka delegation and various universities to explore potential areas of cooperation. The programme concluded with an agreement to prepare a future roadmap and advance collaborative initiatives in a time-bound manner.
Among those present at the meeting were Commissioner and Secretary, Foreign Cooperation Department, Amneet P. Kumar; Commissioner and Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Dr. Amit Kumar Agrawal; Director General, Foreign Cooperation Department, Ashok Kumar Meena; Director General, Industries and Commerce Department, Yash Garg; Advisor to the Chief Minister in the Foreign Cooperation Department, Pawan Kumar Choudhary; Executive Director, International Affairs Bureau, Fukuoka Prefectural Government, Shoji Hirano; Director, International Policy Division, Hisashi Kage; Vice Director General, Commercial and Industrial Department, Shinya Nakano; Director, Technical Human Resource Development Division, Manabu Hirata; senior officials of the Fukuoka Institute of Technology; Vice Chancellors and representatives of various universities in Haryana; and officers from the Higher Education Department and other departments.
MoU Signed Between Haryana and Rajasthan for Yamuna Water Project
MoU signed under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini expresses gratitude to Union Home Minister and Union Jal Shakti Minister
An agreement was signed between Haryana and Rajasthan regarding the Yamuna Water Project under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma were present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that a series of meetings had been held between Haryana and Rajasthan under the chairmanship of Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil regarding the Yamuna Water Project. Under the MoU signed today, Rajasthan will utilize the surplus rainwater available in Haryana between July and October through a dedicated pipeline for drinking water purposes. The agreement marks a significant step forward in the implementation of the project.
He said that under the project, a pipeline will be laid from the Hathnikund Barrage to Rajasthan to facilitate the use of surplus water.
Nayab Singh Saini said it is a matter of great satisfaction, as ensuring the supply of water to those in need is a shared responsibility. He assured full cooperation from Haryana and stated that no obstacle would be allowed to hinder the implementation of the project.
The Chief Minister further said that prior to the signing of the MoU, various aspects of the project had been discussed in detail under the leadership of Union Jal Shakti Minister. The agreement was finalized after extensive deliberations on all related issues.
Nayab Singh Saini expressed his gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma for facilitating the agreement.
Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi and other dignitaries were also present in the meeting.
In the presence of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah, the governments of Haryana and Rajasthan inks an important agreement for construction and implementation of Yamuna Water Project
With this agreement, the long-standing water-related problem of the people of Haryana and Rajasthan, which is almost 3 decades old, has been resolved today
This agreement is an excellent example of the mantra ‘Solution through Dialogue’ given by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
The rainwater, which was previously going to waste and not being used by anyone, will now, after this agreement, quench people’s thirst and will be stored in large ponds to help recharge the groundwater level
In the presence of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, the governments of Hayana and Rajasthan today signed an important agreement in New Delhi for the construction and implementation of the Yamuna Water Project. On this occasion, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil, and senior officials from the Central Government and the State Governments were present.
On this occasion, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said in his address that this agreement has resolved the nearly three-decade-old water-related problem faced by the people of Haryana and Rajasthan. He stated that this agreement is an excellent example of the mantra ‘Solution through Dialogue’, given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This agreement demonstrates that if states move forward with the spirit of cooperative federalism, even a problem persisting for three decades can be resolved easily.
Amit Shah said that under today’s agreement, approximately 580 Million Cubic Meters (MCM) of water will be supplied from the Yamuna Canal to Rajasthan through three underground pipelines from July to October. These three pipelines have a diameter of more than 3.6 metres and will provide drinking water to the people of both Rajasthan and Haryana. Shri Shah said that this agreement is an excellent example of a Win-Win Situation for both states. The agreement has carefully addressed financial responsibilities, cost-sharing, water allocation, water release protocols, and maintenance arrangements. This scientifically comprehensive agreement also beautifully incorporates the operation and maintenance of infrastructure, monitoring systems, transparency measures, and a robust dispute resolution mechanism.
Union Home Minister said that the framework of this agreement, prepared by Haryana, Rajasthan, and especially the Central Water Commission (CWC), will stand as a dispute-free agreement for many decades to come. He said that under the chairmanship of Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil, a resolution was achieved in just a few days. Following this agreement, drinking water will be supplied to the districts of Sikar, Churu, and Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, as well as the Bhiwani and Fatehabad areas in Haryana.
Amit Shah said that this agreement will greatly help in resolving the drinking water problem in Rajasthan and Haryana, particularly in Rajasthan. The water that was earlier going to waste will now quench the thirst of the people and will be stored in large ponds to recharge the groundwater level. Shri Shah said that Haryana, Rajasthan, and the Ministry of Jal Shakti have truly translated into reality the message of cooperative federalism given by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
The project seeks to facilitate the conveyance of Rajasthan’s allocated share of Yamuna waters through an underground pipeline system from the Western Yamuna Canal, enabling the State to effectively utilise the water allocated to it under the 1994 Memorandum of Understanding on the sharing of utilisable surface waters of the Upper Yamuna Basin.
The project is expected to benefit millions of people by ensuring reliable drinking water supply and supporting socio-economic development in the arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan. The Agreement also lays the foundation for timely implementation of the project through coordinated efforts of the Central Government and the participating State Governments.
