Dhaka: Leading Japanese entrepreneur and politician Miki Watanabe has announced plans to establish a driving school in Bangladesh to hire skilled drivers for Japan. Watanabe, founder of the Watami Group, made the announcement during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Saturday evening, as reported by CA's Press Wing.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Watanabe stated, "We are now looking for a 12,000-square-metre area to set up a driving school," highlighting the high demand for qualified drivers in Japan and identifying Bangladesh as a potential key source of manpower. The Chief Adviser responded by asking officials to find suitable land for the proposed driving school, preferably on the outskirts of Dhaka.
The meeting was a follow-up to Professor Yunus's official visit to Japan in May, during which Japanese entrepreneurs signed an agreement with Bangladeshi authorities to recruit 100,000 workers from Bangladesh over the next five years. Watanabe, who has long admired Professor Yunus's work, shared that he had already established a language training academy in Monorhodi, Narsingdi district, aiming to train and recruit at least 3,000 Bangladeshi workers. "Fifty-two workers have already gone to Japan to work in the construction and agriculture sectors," he added.
The academy currently trains 40 students per session, with plans to expand its facilities and network across the country. Professor Yunus emphasized the importance of teaching Japanese etiquette, decorum, and cultural values through the academy, stating, "Teaching etiquette and culture should be an integral part of the academy's training." He further encouraged the expansion of training programs in caregiving, nursing, construction, and farming, noting the potential for significantly higher wages in Japan for skilled workers in these fields.
Watanabe expressed interest in setting up another training center in or near Dhaka to facilitate visits by Japanese companies without the need to travel long distances to Monorhodi. The Chief Adviser promptly instructed officials to locate a ready facility, such as an unused IT park, that could be quickly transformed into a Japanese language and vocational training center with minimal investment. "We will work together," Professor Yunus stated, "We'll find land for the driving school and a ready facility for the new training center."
Shazeeb Khairul Islam, Personal Secretary to the Chief Adviser, mentioned plans to organize visits for Japanese investors to potential IT park sites around Dhaka. Professor Yunus also called for increased efforts to host more Japanese language proficiency tests in Bangladesh, noting that Japan requires overseas recruits to demonstrate adequate language skills. Currently, the tests are held only twice a year, which he deemed insufficient to meet the growing demand.
During the meeting, Watanabe fondly recalled establishing a school at Narayankul in Gazipur over a decade ago, inspired by Professor Yunus's vision for a poverty-free world. "The school now has 1,500 students. It's a wonderful institution - the students are amazing and doing very well," Watanabe said. SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed also attended the meeting.