Deals signed to produce skilled workforce

The government signed Sunday Tk 858 million contracts with two private organisations to create a skilled workforce to meet local demand.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide the lion's share of the funds for creating skilled manpower under the ongoing project.  
Skilled for Employment Investment Programme (SEIP) of the government and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) inked a Tk 694 million contract at the ministry of finance (MoF).  
Of the total amount, BKMEA will give over Tk 76 million for creating skilled workforce in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector.
SEIP National Project Director Jalal Ahmed, also additional secretary of the MoF, and BKMEA's first vice-president AH Aslam Sunny signed the deal on behalf of their respective sides.
Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association (BEIOA) signed another contract with SEIP, involving over Tk 163 million.
Mr Jalal Ahmed and BEIOA president Abdur Razzak signed the agreement at the MoF on behalf of their respective sides.  
"It is a great opportunity for us to work together. We should work together so that we could create skilled workforce to fulfil internal and external demands," Jalal Ahmed said before signing the contracts.
"We should create a skilled workforce by providing them with proper training, taking local and international demands into account," Mr Ahmed said.
The ongoing project has set a target of creating skilled manpower within next three years by providing them with training in 15 sectors.
In the first year, 13,170 people will receive training, followed by 14,070 in the second year and 14,070 in the third year that will help the country earn US$ 50 billion through export by 2021.
    talhabinhabib@yahoo.com