ABSTRACT

In the Japanese IT industry, the shortage of IT human resources is remarkable due to the expansion of IT utilization in new businesses and the deterioration of working conditions of IT human resources, among other factors. In particular, the shortage of IT human resources in regional cities is severe. In an effort to make up for such shortage, concerned parties in Miyazaki City, the prefectural capital of Miyazaki Prefecture in regional Japan, are building the Miyazaki-Bangladesh model which utilizes IT human resources from Bangladesh. This model is a new business case based on industry-government-academia collaboration in both countries, which creates a win-win relationship between Miyazaki and Bangladesh. The elucidation of the current situation of the Miyazaki-Bangladesh model will provide insight to both developed countries and least developed countries for future industrial policies and human resource management. In this paper, we will clarify the current situation and issues of this model, including the effects of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, focusing on interviews with those involved in the Miyazaki-Bangladesh model.