Guwahati, October 13: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday officially launched the Chief Minister’s Foreign Languages Initiative for Global Human Talent (CM-FLIGHT) at the North East Skill Centre in Guwahati, setting in motion a flagship mission to prepare Assamese youth for international employment opportunities.
The CM-FLIGHT programme is the state’s first large-scale effort to provide structured foreign language and global skill training, aimed at transforming Assam into a recognised source of skilled professionals for the global job market.
In the inaugural phase, 180 candidates will undergo Japanese language training (JFT Basic/JLPT N4) through three international training partners — ASEAN-ONE Co. Ltd, Jaceex Ventures LLP, and Meiko Career Partners Co. Ltd. The training is designed to qualify participants for employment in Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa category, particularly across key industries like healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and food services.
“CM-FLIGHT is not just a language training initiative — it’s a mission to build confidence, ambition, and global readiness among Assam’s youth,” Dr. Sarma said. “We want our young people to excel abroad and return home with valuable experience to strengthen Assam’s development.”
To ensure inclusivity, the state government will provide ₹1 lakh per candidate to cover training, orientation, and documentation costs, along with ₹50,000 for post-placement support, including relocation and visa expenses. “This ensures that financial constraints will not stop any deserving candidate,” the Chief Minister emphasised.
Sarma explained that the initiative stems from discussions with Japan’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, Fukushiro Nukaga, during the Advantage Assam 2.0 visit. Following the talks, ASEAN-ONE Chairman Toshiaki Nishikawa agreed to reduce training fees from ₹3.6 lakh to ₹1.8 lakh, and with government support, the final cost to trainees will now be around ₹30,000.
As part of an agreement between India and Japan to send five lakh skilled Indian workers to Japan by 2030, Assam has secured 50,000 placements, with potential expansion up to one lakh. “If we act proactively, Assam can lead India’s contribution to Japan’s skilled workforce,” Dr. Sarma stated.
He also underlined the economic advantages of overseas employment, noting that foreign remittances can substantially enhance Assam’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), similar to models seen in Kerala and Maharashtra. “A strong international workforce will uplift families, create jobs, and build economic resilience,” he added.
Japan will serve as the pilot destination under CM-FLIGHT, but future phases will introduce more languages and target other countries, opening diverse global pathways for Assam’s youth. “Our goal is to position Assam as a trusted global talent hub built on honesty, hard work, and humility,” Dr. Sarma concluded.
The launch was attended by senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretaries Ajay Tewari, Dr. B. Kalyan Chakravarthy, and Dr. K.K. Dwivedi; Principal Secretary Gyanendra Dev Tripathi; Professor Parameswar K. Iyer of IIT Guwahati; and Japanese dignitaries led by ASEAN-ONE Chairman Toshiaki Nishikawa.
