The New Tokyo Strategy aims to develop human resources in the Mekong Region. In the actual document released at the Mekong-Japan Summit meeting, however, few details were given regarding any planned educational development efforts between Japan and the Mekong countries, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam. The document simply reads:
To achieve “quality growth” and consolidate the rule of law, both sides shared the recognition that it is essential to cultivate and secure human resources, particularly legal and industrial professionals, and skilled workers.
In the last few days, a little more information has come out about the types of human resource development that will likely occur as part of the New Tokyo Strategy. Masashi Kono, the director of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in Cambodia, recently spoke with the Phnom Penh Post about Japan’s efforts in the region. In the interview, he revealed an important detail missing from last week’s summit in Tokyo:
It’s a rare case for Japan to come and invest directly [in Cambodia]. At this moment, we’re promoting the Thailand Plus One or China Plus One [strategy].
For example, a Japanese company already has a presence in Thailand, so it considers setting up in a country nearby – at that moment Cambodia is the first candidate.
The minimum wage may have increased, but if you compare total expenses for workers in Cambodia, it’s still reasonable compared to Thailand or China.
And there are also advantages brought by the special economic zones.
Even in Kitakyushu, some businesses in automotive parts and education expressed interest in Cambodia following our visit. They were very eager for Cambodia.
Still, the [Cambodian] market is small, with just 15 million people, so not many businesses are not considering direct investment or exporting [Japanese] goods here.
The important detail related to “human resource development” is in bold. Why would a city in Fukuoka Prefecture, which is in southern Japan, be interested in Cambodia? On JETRO’s website, some background on Kitakyushu City is given:
Kitakyushu City developed in line with the key industries including steel, chemical, metal, and ceramics and played a significant role in the modernization of Japan. From this historical context, there is an industrial cluster centered on business establishments concerning automobile, semi-conductor and members/materials. The reason for this robust business climate is drawn from its proximity to other Asian countries, an ample amount of land with a stable supply of water and electricity, low investment costs, and its imperviousness to natural disasters.
Part of the “industrial cluster” in Kitakyushu city is the Kitakyushu Science and Research Park (KSRP). KSRP aims to be a core academic research center in Asia focused on automobiles, technology, and the environment. The research and industrial focus of KSRP matches Japan’s strategic areas of focus in the New Tokyo Strategy: Asia’s aging societies, creating green cities, and providing automobiles to the growing middle class. One project within KSRP is to create a “Silicon Sea Belt” (SSB) whereby Kitakyushu city acts as a hub connecting research centers and industries in South Korea, Shanghai, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and, eventually, the Mekong states like Cambodia. The SSB would focus primarily on semi-conductors. Another project is to create the technology cities need to reduce smog and pollution, a growing problem in many of Asia’s fast developing countries. The various projects within KSRP, which bring together public and private universities, industries, and research centers, are designed to be exported to other countries, thus making some companies in Kitakyushu interested in Cambodia (and also Laos, Myanmar, etc.).
When it comes to “human resource development” specifically, KSRP has one major project: the Hibikino Semiconductor Academy.
In order to support the education and re-education of postgraduate students and engineers from the electronics industry, the Hibikino Semiconductor Academy provides training services along with classroom lectures in cooperation between industry and universities. The training services include practical lessons in which semiconductors are designed, tested and evaluated.
It is likely the human resource development the New Tokyo Strategy mentions is related to the KSRP generally (after all, Prime Minister Hun Sen visited the city after the Tokyo summit) and the Hibikino Semiconductor Academy specifically. I suspect the goals of KSRP will align with Japan’s support for developing universities in the Mekong Region (similar to the Japan-Vietnam university project). This soft-power move will see scientists and engineers from the Mekong regions studying or working in KSRP. When these scientists move back to their home country, they will bring with them friendly relationships with various Japanese businesses. One piece that isn’t known yet, regards the effects these developments will have on primary and secondary education. I suspect the ministries of education in the various Mekong states will start pushing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) education to develop the “human resources” needed to enroll in Japanese-supported universities and, eventually, the KSRP.