Mahindra Farm Division flags-off inaugural batch of workmen to Japan under technical intern training program

MUMBAI, 29 September 2023: Mahindra Farm Division, part of Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector and India’s No.1 tractor brand, marked a significant milestone in its commitment to skill development and globalisation, by dispatching its first group of ten skilled workmen to Japan under Japan's Technical Intern Training Program (TITP).

Flagged off by Hemant Sikka, President – Farm Equipment Sector (FES), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., and other dignitaries from Mahindra FES on the auspicious occasion of Anant Chaturdashi and Eid-e-Milad from the company’s facility in Kandivali, Mumbai, the 10 Mahindra workmen selected for this initiative represents Mahindra’s tractor manufacturing facilities in Zaheerabad, Nagpur, and Rudrapur.

With the support of the Government of Japan, these individuals will receive mandatory training in Nagoya, Japan, for 4-6 weeks. Subsequently, they will be assigned to Mitsubishi Mahindra Agricultural Machinery in Shimane, Japan, for a year-long on-the-job training program. The workmen also successfully completed mandatory training sessions in Japanese cultural sensitivity, encompassing 17 days of in-person classroom sessions and 370 hours of online training.

Speaking on the occasion, Hemant Sikka said “At Mahindra FES, our purpose truly drives us, and we take immense pride in fostering an inclusive workplace that empowers our people to reach their fullest potential to achieve that purpose. Japan's TITP program is a vital channel for realizing this vision. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our program partners, as well as the Governments of India and Japan for their support."

Sikka further added, “Through the meticulous selection of our first batch of ten individuals from diverse Mahindra Tractor manufacturing locations, our aim is to bolster their technical expertise and knowledge through invaluable on-the-job internships in Japan. Upon return, these workmen will implement the best Japanese shop floor practices in our plants.”

TITP initiated in 1993, is Japan's pioneering program aimed at facilitating skills transfer and international cooperation by providing on-the-job training to individuals from developing countries. The program plays a pivotal role in promoting human resource development and fostering economic growth in participating regions.

India's Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Japan's Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in October 2017, ushering in a new era of collaboration in the skill development sector between the two nations.

Under this program, select candidates from India embark on three-to-five years of internship in Japan, followed by their return to India to apply the acquired skills for the betterment of both countries. In January 2018, MSDE entrusted the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) with the responsibility of overseeing the program.