Kathmandu, September 18, 2026 — Japanese and Nepali organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Kathmandu to train and recruit Nepali drivers for Japan’s automobile transportation sector under the Specified Skilled Worker programme.
Japan opened its automobile transportation sector to foreign workers through a Cabinet decision in 2024, allowing foreign nationals to work as truck, bus and taxi drivers. Nepal has so far sent almost no workers to Japan under this category.
Under the agreement, Nepali candidates with valid driving licences will undergo Japanese language training, technical instruction and Japanese-style driving training in Nepal before travelling to Japan.
To obtain the relevant status of residence, candidates must pass a Japanese language test and a skills evaluation test and obtain a Japanese driving licence.
Three Nepali organisations have joined the programme, with each assigned a specific responsibility. Mother Brain Nepal Pvt. Ltd. will serve as the recruitment agency, Yukiguni Education Consultancy Pvt. Ltd. will provide Japanese language training, and Antique Driving Centre will conduct driving instruction.
The MoU was signed by Shiro Sogawa on behalf of the Japanese side. The Nepali side was represented by Krishna Giri, chairman of Mother Brain Nepal Pvt. Ltd.; Rajkumar Tamang, chief executive officer of Yukiguni Education Consultancy Pvt. Ltd.; and Saroj Songamikha of Antique Driving Centre.
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Sogawa, who is chairman of the International Driving Education Association of Japan, attended the signing. The association certifies Japanese-style driver training programmes conducted outside Japan.
“This programme will not require candidates to pay a recruitment service fee,” Giri said, adding that the programme would operate under Nepal’s Foreign Employment Act, 2064, and the direction of the Department of Foreign Employment.
The organisers said the number of candidates to be recruited and the deployment schedule will be announced after training arrangements are completed and the required approvals are obtained.