Shiga Prefecture has signed an MOU with Hanoi University of Science and Technology

 On November 12, 2021, three parties, i.e., Shiga Prefecture, the Shiga Prefecture Economic and Industrial Association, and Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) held a signing ceremony online, signing an MOU to collaborate in terms of human resources. Its purpose is to encourage excellent Vietnamese technical personnel from HUST to work in Shiga Prefecture. This is the first MOU that the University has concluded with a local government in Japan.

 The online signing ceremony was attended by Taizo Mikazuki, Governor of Shiga Prefecture, Futoshi Ishii, Chairman of the Shiga Economic and Industrial Association, and Huynh Quyet Thang, President of HUST. They signed the MOU to collaborate in recruiting, employing, and supporting students.

 Shiga Prefecture is home to Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan and often associated with “nature” and the “environment.”

 However, the ratio of the manufacturing industry to the prefecture’s gross domestic product is 44.6%, which is the highest in Japan.

 In addition, the percentage of people engaged in the secondary sector is 33.81%, which is also the highest in the nation.

 As proof, many mother factories and R&D bases of world-famous large companies are located in the prefecture.

 As proof, many mother factories and R&D bases of world-famous large companies are located in the prefecture.

 Those companies include Panasonic Corporation in the appliance field, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in the electrical field, Toray Industries, Inc. and Kyocera Corporation in the chemical field, Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. in the automobile field, The P&G Japan Limited in the beauty field, and Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd. in the food field; there is no end to examples of such companies.

 Many small and medium-sized enterprises, which are suppliers of these large companies, are also located in Shiga, making the prefecture a significant center of the manufacturing industry.

 Due to its geographical benefits of being located almost in the center of Japan, Shiga has prospered as a transportation hub for a long time.

 Today, the prefecture serves as a crossing point of the Kinki, Chubu, and Hokuriku economic zones, providing an optimal location and environment for corporate activities. Furthermore, with well-developed transportation infrastructure, including highways and multiple major international airports and ports located within 100 km of the prefecture, Shiga has been chosen as a manufacturing base.

 Shiga also has many commuter towns for Keihanshin, a metropolitan area in the Kansai region. From the prefectural capital Otsu City, Kyoto is reached by a 10-minute train ride, and Osaka is by a 40-minute train ride. Many families with small children live in Shiga because of its favorable location and rich natural environment.

 Thus, Shiga was one of the few prefectures in Japan with a growing population. However, since 2013, when it reached its peak, the prefecture’s population has entered a downward trend.

 In conjunction with this trend, the issue of labor shortage has become apparent at local companies. Shortage of technical personnel is significantly becoming a severe issue for the prefecture, with its many manufacturers.

 Under these circumstances, Vietnamese workers in the prefecture reached 4,345 in October 2020, an eightfold increase over the five preceding years. They have been playing an active role in local industries.

 In 2014, Shiga Prefecture signed an MOU with Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to promote economic exchange. In 2017, it signed an MOU also with Quang Ninh Province to cooperate in the fields of environment and economy.

 With this background, we have conducted field surveys and partner selections to build a new partnership in securing human resources with Vietnam, with which we have developed cooperative relations.

 These efforts led us to sign an MOU with HUST, which has produced many technical human resources.

 Starting with an online matching event to be held this year, we will promote the active participation of excellent Vietnamese who will be involved in Shiga Prefecture.