Shanghai is expected to export professionals to southeast Asian countries to aid reconstruction projects in tsunami-stricken areas, officials with the Shanghai International Technology Cooperation Association revealed yesterday.

Several local labor services companies, such as China International Intellectech (Shanghai) Corporation, are negotiating with their international counterparts about the special labor export program.

Professionals that the tsunami-hit countries ordered from the city will focus on aquaculturists, vessel manufacturing and repair workers and high-skilled construction engineers.

Nursery professionals and employees in the local service industry, such as hotels and supermarkets, are also on the demand list, the association said.

The tsunamis dealt a blow southeast Asian last December 26 and completely ruined the area's aquacultural, tourism and other industries, which will take years or even decades to recover.

For instance, many aquacultural bases were so completely destroyed or seriously polluted that companies had to open up new facilities in other locations.

The reconstruction work will give rise to large demand for aquacultural professionals, officials said.

"In a country with abundant human resources, we are ready to supply the world's demand with qualified labors and help locals step into the international labor market," said Pan Handa, vice director of the association's labor corporation committee.
But pan didn't disclose the specific labor demand quantity and professional's salary and benefits.

The city's candidates need to go through strict selection and receive tailored training courses focused on language skills, profession and ethics before leaving for the southeast Asian countries.

The first batch of candidates will be selected sometime next month, association officials said yesterday.

(Shanghai Daily February 6, 2005)