Pradhan said the institutes and universities need to focus on Japanese Language initially which has been identified as priority area by both nations when the Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe visited India in September this year.

During Abe’s visit, a memorandum of understanding was signed to promote Japanese language education in India between the two countries to further strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation.

Along with skills, foreign language education will be important to export skilled workforce from India but currently the focus is on Japanese language, said Pradhan who visited the Bhartiya Skills Development University at Mahindra World City.

Ageing Japan needs skilled manpower to support its economy whereas about 12 million youths in India are entering the job market every year.

Earlier in the day, addressing the oil industry delegates at the Society of Petroleum Geophysicists (SPG) biennial meet in the city, Pradhan said industrial revolution 4.0 will be driven by data acquisition, analysis and management.

On a question about the status of the proposed refinery in Barmer, he said that the project has received all the approvals including environment clearance. The foundation stone will be laid by the prime minister as and when he finds time for it.