The seminar was jointly held by the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), the Vietnamese Embassy and the Japan International Training Cooperation Organisation (JITCO) on April 15 with the aim of improving the efficiency of the Vietnam-Japan cooperation programme in labour training that began in 1992.

On the occasion, JITCO President Toshio Takano spoke highly of the close coordination between Vietnamese and Japanese relevant agencies in managing labour exports.

Mr Takano said the number of Vietnamese trainees sent to Japan has been increasing rapidly, with 3,300 Vietnamese trainees in 2007. He affirmed that the figure will be much higher in the future.

MoLISA Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said over 16 years Vietnam has sent more than 30,000 labourers to Japan for training and technical practice in electronics, mechanical engineering, garment and processing industries.

The training curriculums and types of work in Japan are very suitable for Vietnamese trainees. The workers have improved their skills and performed well after returning to Vietnam, Ms Ngan said. Vietnam appreciates the efficiency of the training cooperation programme and wishes to boost the cooperation in the coming time, she added.