Japanese Construction Equipment Firm Supports Human Resource Development Project in Liberia

Komatsu Supports Human Resource Development Project in Liberia by the Japanese Government and UNIDO
Date: Jul 17, 2014
Source: Komatsu Ltd.

Komatsu Ltd. (hereinafter “Komatsu“) (President and CEO: Tetsuji Ohashi) has been supporting the “Plan to Create Employment Opportunities for Youth in the Mining, Construction and Agriculture Sectors,” (hereinafter the “Plan”) financed by the Japanese government and managed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The Plan has recently opened a center for vocational skills, which will play the role of a headquarters.

Komatsu supports this Project as part of its efforts for social contributions through human resource development, one of the areas of focus for its CSR activities. By capitalizing on its experience in human resource development through its business operations, Komatsu plans to support start-up operations mainly by receiving participants for its instructor of construction machine operators’ training in Japan, dispatching instructors from Japan and supplying materials and equipment. Komatsu will also support the Plan in collaboration with its local distributor.

Background of the Plan
Two civil wars continued in the Republic of Liberia, located in the central part of West Africa, until around 2003. Today, under the leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first popularly elected female president in Africa and a Nobel laureate, the Liberian government has been promoting peace processes. The Liberian economy has been picking up momentum for growth centering on the development of natural resources and infrastructure, sustaining over 9% year-on-year growth on average since 2008. The Japanese government has positioned Liberia as a country of focus for its Consolidation of Peace initiative and has given support mainly in the areas of infrastructure development and human resource development.
The Japanese government has been involved in the Plan, as a financer since May 2013. The Plan has been managed by UNIDO,which has requested assistance from Komatsu. Because the Plan adheres to its policy of contributing to society through human resource development, Komatsu has accepted the request.

Outline of the Center
Name: Japan Heavy Equipment Operator School(JHEOS)
Objectives: To promote employment of youth in the mining, construction and agriculture sectors in Liberia by providing skills training and the development of human resources (training of construction machine operators and instructors).

Description of the Support

1. Training of instructors of JHEOS
   1. May 2014: Trained four instructors in Japan for three weeks.
   2. August 2014: Will dispatch one instructor to JHEOS from Japan, who will provide follow-up instruction.
2. Donation of used equipment (One unit of the PC200 hydraulic excavator and one unit of the D65 bulldozer)
3. Provision of basic training texts
4. Continuous support in collaboration with BIA, Komatsu’s local distributor

Social Contribution Activities through Human Resource Development by Komatsu