The Government of Nagaland, through the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence for Foreign Languages (CoEFL) and key institutional partners, will organise Nagaland–Japan Connect 2026, an initiative aimed at boosting investment, employment and long-term cooperation between Nagaland and Japan by strengthening people-to-people ties, reported DIPR.
The initiative, according to the report, marks the official flag-off of a Government-to-Government partnership between Nagaland and Japan and is a key outcome of a high-level delegation led by Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio to Japan, during which engagements were held with senior Japanese government officials, the then Ambassador of India to Japan, and leading Japanese companies.
The partnership was formally cemented through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Kochi Prefecture, Japan, in July 2025, focusing on human resource exchange, agricultural technology collaboration, and the development of future strategic partnerships, it said.
Building on the State Government’s emphasis on human capital development as a driver of economic growth, Nagaland–Japan Connect 2026 seeks to integrate skill development, foreign language training, recruitment facilitation and cultural exchange into a single institutional platform.
At the core of the initiative is the Centre of Excellence for Foreign Languages (CoEFL) hosted at Nagaland University, which has been established to equip Naga youth with internationally recognised foreign language skills, cultural preparedness and overseas employment opportunities, while simultaneously strengthening bilateral ties and future business collaborations.
Japanese is the first foreign language introduced under the program through its language partner ARMS Incorporation.
The initiative has already contributed to sustained income generation and remittance inflows to the State, supporting household welfare and local economic development, it added.
The event will feature career sensitisation programs on employment opportunities in Japan, job interviews with visiting Japanese companies across sectors such as caregiving, agriculture, tourism and hospitality, and manufacturing, along with testimonials, cultural programs, B2G interactions and exchange of MoUs.
Positioned as a long-term engagement platform, Nagaland–Japan Connect 2026 is envisioned to evolve into a recurring flagship event on the State’s annual calendar, strengthening international cooperation while aligning initiatives related to human resource development, cultural exchange, research, policy dialogue and business opportunities.