RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment and Development, Muhaimin Iskandar, emphasized that human resource development is key to strengthening the Indonesia–Japan partnership and producing globally competitive talent.

He said the two countries should expand cooperation in talent development to meet global market demands.

“Indonesia needs people ready to seize global job opportunities, while Japan needs a qualified workforce,” Minister Muhaimin said in a press statement in Jakarta on Friday, July 31, 2026.

He explained that the partnership aims to build competent Japanese‑language skills and a sustainable understanding of Japanese work culture, preparing Indonesian talent to meet Japan’s demand for skilled workers.

“Our cooperation is about developing human resources with competency, language skills, and a good understanding of Japanese culture, not just sending workers,” he added.

During the meeting, the two ministers discussed the long‑term direction of human resource development. They agreed to build an ecosystem for producing quality talent and strengthening bilateral ties.

Minister Muhaimin noted that Indonesia’s demographic dividend offers significant opportunities to prepare global talent, while Japan requires human resource support to sustain its economic growth.

He highlighted the SMK Go Global program, which prepares vocational graduates to compete internationally through skills training, Japanese language development, and adaptation to work culture. “This program equips Indonesian talent to face the demands of the global job market with increasingly superior competencies,” he said.

SMK Go Global is a government initiative involving the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment and the Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers. It helps vocational graduates secure safe, legal, and professional work abroad.

Minister Muhaimin said Japanese Minister of Economic Security, Science and Technology Policy, Space Policy, and Intellectual Property Strategy Kimi Onoda welcomed the program. The Japanese government expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Indonesia to improve talent development and human resource quality.

He encouraged aligning vocational education and certification to boost the competitiveness of Indonesian workers in Japan, ensuring their skills match the needs of Japanese industry.

“The government is committed to promoting the safe, orderly, and responsible mobility of Indonesian workers to Japan. Workers must also understand the regulations, work ethics, and values of Japanese society,” Muhaimin said.

He concluded that cooperation in human resource development is expected not only to meet labor needs but also to strengthen the strategic relationship between Indonesia and Japan. (Misni Parjiati)