KUALA LUMPUR - Kagawa Prefecture will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indonesian government covering the acceptance of technical intern trainees, among other areas. 

With many local companies facing serious labor shortages in Japan, the prefecture aims to promote the intake of foreign workers by strengthening ties with sending countries.

According to Nikkei, Kagawa Governor, Toyohito Ikeda and Chairman of the Kagawa Federation of Small Business Associations, Kozo Furukawa will visit Jakarta, Indonesia, from January 22 to 24. 

During the visit, the prefecture plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower on the sending and acceptance of technical intern trainees.

Ikeda and his delegation will also pay a courtesy call on Indonesia’s Ministry for the Protection of Migrant Workers, where they will discuss cooperation on the acceptance of foreign workers under Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker programme.

At a press conference on January 19, Ikeda said he hopes to hold discussions with the Indonesian government and relevant institutions to promote initiatives such as the establishment of Japanese-language courses at local schools.

Ehime Prefecture announced a similar agreement on January 16.

Beyond intergovernmental Memorandums of Cooperation (MOC), a growing number of local governments are seeking to build direct relationships of trust with overseas authorities, creating more stable and preferential pipelines through which workers from specific regions can be accepted.