Japanese, Nepali firms sign MoU to train Nepali drivers for Japan

KATHMANDU, Sept. 16: Japanese and Nepali organisations signed a memorandum of understanding in Kathmandu on Wednesday to train and recruit Nepali drivers for Japan’s automobile transportation sector under the Specified Skilled Worker programme.

Japan opened the sector to foreign workers by Cabinet decision in 2024, covering truck, bus and taxi drivers. Nepal has so far sent almost no workers to Japan in this category.

Under the agreement, candidates holding a valid Nepali driving licence will complete Japanese language training, technical instruction and Japanese-style driving training in Nepal before departure.

To qualify for the status of residence, candidates must pass a Japanese language test and a skills evaluation test and obtain a Japanese driving licence. Three Nepali organisations signed alongside the Japanese side, each taking a separate role in the programme.

Mother Brain Nepal Pvt. Ltd. will act as the recruitment agency, Yukiguni Education Consultancy Pvt. Ltd. will provide Japanese language training, and Antique Driving Centre will provide driving instruction. The memorandum was signed by Shiro Sogawa for the Japanese side, and by Krishna Giri, chairman of Mother Brain Nepal Pvt. Ltd., Rajkumar Tamang, chief executive officer of Yukiguni Education Consultancy Pvt. Ltd., and saroj songamikha of Antique Driving Centre for the Nepali side.

Sogawa, chairman of the International Driving Education Association of Japan, attended the signing. The association certifies Japanese-style driver training delivered outside Japan. Candidates will not be charged a recruitment service fee,” Giri said.

“This programme will be run entirely within the Foreign Employment Act, 2064 and under the direction of the Department of Foreign Employment. Organisers said the number of candidates and the deployment timeline will be announced once training arrangements are complete and the necessary approvals are in place.