GUWAHATI: The Skill Employment and Entrepreneurship Department hosted the Industry Meet, 2024, where Skill Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah graced the occasion as the chief guest. The event aimed to explore innovative solutions to bolster Assam's skill education sector and equip the state's youth for contemporary workforce demands.
In his keynote address, Minister Baruah emphasized the critical role of industry-led skill education. He called on leading industry players to actively participate in designing curriculum for Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and also take an active part in managing these institutions to modernize them in line with global standards.
"Assam is committed to transforming its skill education landscape. We plan to establish ITIs in every Legislative Assembly Constituency and eventually expand to each block of the state," said Minister Baruah. Highlighting the government's ambitious plan, the minister stated, "We are looking to set up 70 more ITIs in unserved constituencies. We urge the industry to collaborate by adopting ITIs, designing industry-specific courses, and helping create a skilled workforce tailored to their needs."
Minister Baruah also underscored Assam's strategic position as the gateway to ASEAN and Southeast Asia. "While Assam was once considered peripheral, it is now at the centre of India's connection to Southeast Asia. With industry support, Assam can become the growth engine of the nation," he stated.
Acknowledging the state's youthful demographic advantage, the minister stressed that prioritizing skill development is essential to addressing unemployment. He highlighted ongoing collaborations with leading organizations such as TATA Technologies, which is transforming existing ITIs into centres of excellence under Industry 4.0 and called on other industries to follow suit.
"We are confident that these collaborations will enable Assam's skilled workforce to seamlessly integrate into the global industry," concluded Minister Baruah.
The event witnessed participation from over 150 leading industries. A series of discussions culminated in the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with organizations including Scientech, Festo, Honda CSR, ABB, and Janatics. These partnerships aim to enhance technical training, foster employment opportunities, and strengthen Assam's skill development ecosystem, stated a press release.
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