In a significant move to combat unemployment and unlock international career opportunities for its youth, the Assam government has rolled out a groundbreaking initiative: the Chief Minister’s Foreign Language Initiative for Global Human Talent (CM-FLIGHT). Announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on July 23, 2025, the scheme aims to equip Assamese youth with foreign language skills, starting with Japanese, to secure employment overseas.
Boosting Global Employability with CM-FLIGHT
The CM-FLIGHT scheme, officially approved by the state cabinet during a meeting in Dibrugarh on July 23, 2025, with Chief Minister Sarma presiding, is a strategic effort to tap into the global job market. The core of this initiative is to provide comprehensive foreign language training, initially focusing on Japanese, to eligible youth.
Key highlights of the CM-FLIGHT scheme include:
- Advanced Japanese Language Training: Participants will receive in-depth training, preparing them up to the prestigious Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N2 level, a benchmark for professional competency in Japanese.
- Significant Financial Support: The state government will offer a substantial subsidy of Rs 1.5 lakh per student enrolled in the Japanese language training program, making this valuable education accessible.
- Paid Work Opportunities in Japan: Upon successful completion of the training and achieving the required proficiency, candidates will be facilitated into short-term paid work opportunities in Japan, providing crucial international experience.
Pilot Project Underway with International Partners
To ensure the scheme’s effective implementation, the state government plans to launch a pilot project within the current financial year. Assam has already forged crucial partnerships with international agencies to deliver this ambitious program. An agreement has been signed with ASEAN ONE Co., Ltd., Jaceex Ventures LLP, and Meiko Career Partners Co., Ltd. These agencies will be instrumental in:
- Providing high-quality Japanese language training to the selected Assamese youth.
- Facilitating employment opportunities in Japan under Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa program, a direct pathway for skilled foreign workers.
