I am happy to learn the second spell of the week-long senior manager level Module 2 course on VLFM Program, is being successfully concluded at the campus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta. Subsequent to its introductory session in Mumbai, I am glad to know that the one-week Module 2 course of the program that initiated here last week is closing today. I fondly remember the inaugural day when I had the opportunity to address the first batch of junior manager level students of the Post Graduate Program for Executives Visionary Leaders for Manufacturing (PGPEX-VLFM), only a few days following; our former. Prime Minister of Japan H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe's hallmark visit to Kolkata. This time, in Kolkata, an opportunity has unfolded for; both the junior, managerial level trainees undergoing the one-year full time PGPEX-VLFM program and the senior general managerial level participants pursuing this four-week course to gather at a common place to mutually exchange their views. I believe this kind of interactions amongst the participants is very significant to foster the visionary leaders.

I think it is especially befitting to mention here that Mr. Shinzo Abe, our former Prime...Minister, signed a. joint statement in New Delhi in August this year with Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh on "the roadmap for new dimensions to the strategic and global partnership between Japan and India". On the Visionary Leaders: for Manufacturing Program (VLFM), the two leaders noted with satisfaction that the first VLFM programme has been launched under Japanese- Technical Cooperation. Programme to facilitate establishing an advanced and innovative management education system in India. Prime Minister Mr.Abe, in his historic inaugural speech at the Bharat Japan Cultural Centre (Rabindra-OKAKURA Bhavan) in Kolkata stressed the importance on this VLFM Program at the IIM Calcutta. This shows my home government's immense interest in the successful implementation of the program in India. I am sure that this kind of Japanese co-operation is unique and pioneering in the world and it shows the special strategic partnership between Japan and India in order to make strong India in the manufacturing sector. It will not be out of place to mention here that Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon'ble Prime Minister of India visited Japan during December last year and declared   a. joint   statement   regarding   co-operation   in   the   field   of manufacturing between Japan and India. Following which, Japanese side has been   dispatching   experts to   IIT Kanpur in order to   co-operate   the establishment   of   implementation   system   for   Visionary   Leaders for Manufacturing and formation of the curriculum of this program. It is my pleasure that IIM Calcutta was selected; in collaboration with IITs in Madras and Kanpur. Japanese side will be providing faculty and industry experts and again receiving Indian management trainees in Japan. In addition to this, trainings will be given to the students in Japanese firms and organizations in manufacturing sector. The Government of Japan greatly expects private sector of Japan also to co-operate Indian manufacturing sector and receive trainees from India. This reflects our Government's commitment to stand by India's mission of turning her sluggish manufacturing sector into a globally competitive one thereby attaining higher manufacturing growth rate in the days to come. I believe that Indians can do what Japanese can. These weeklong courses, I believe, would, enable the participants to apply the management techniques and help them sort out the challenges faced during implementation. With the process of continuous interaction, I hope the training would finally come out to be of immense benefit to you all.

I wish every success of the training program.