The COSEVCO Import-Export and Trade joint-venture and Japan's ICM company have opened a training course in the central city of Da Nang for Vietnamese workers hoping to work in Japan.

The training course is the first of its kind funded by the Japanese Government. ICM company will cover training tuition fees, living costs, two-way airfares, and visa and passport expenditures for trainees.

By the end of 2006, the first group including 20 most skilled trainees of the 34 will be sent to work in Japan.

In 2006, two more young Da Nang workers will be trained in Japan under a project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), said Fumio Kikuchi, chief representative of JICA Vietnam office at a meeting with Da Nang officials on May 17.

In addition, JICA will help Da Nang build a tourism college and train urban management staff.

In 2005, Da Nang sent three young staff to Japan to attend human resource training courses.