Bhubaneswar, Jan 13 (PTI) Union Petroleum and SkillDevelopment Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today batted forglobal tie-ups to transform Odisha into a skill developmentand training hub.
"Odisha offers a very optimistic eco-system to developit as a skill and knowledge-centric hub with the presence ofpremier academic institutions under the state and the privatesector," he said.
Stating that Odisha is home to world-class traininginstitutions like the Central Institute of PlasticsEngineering and Technology, and the Central Tool Room andTraining Centre, Pradhan said such platforms must createnetworking opportunities to upgrade human resource capital.
"We must ensure that people's skills keep pace withtechnology," the minister said.
Pradhan made the observations after holding aninteractive session on skill initiatives with globalcompanies, which have gathered here for the ongoing 22ndRefining Technology and Petrochemicals Meet.
The sole agenda of the interactive session was to pavethe way for international collaborations with Odisha's premiertechnical institutions for training the local youth toincrease employability, a senior official said.
Japanese Ambassador in India, Kenji Hiramatsu, who waspart of the deliberations, said there was tremendous potentialin Odisha for developing knowledge and skill-based industrieswith support from Japanese businesses.
The meeting assumed significance as skill developmenthas been accorded a top priority in the hydrocarbon sector, inline with the National Skill Development Mission.
The availability of sufficient number of skilledpersonnel for business operations and associated challengesrelated to attracting, training and retaining of personnelare gaining critical importance today, said another seniorofficial.
Considering the "pioneering initiatives" introduced inOdisha by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, puttingthe state strongly on the road of being the "energy gateway toeastern India', it is opening up a world of opportunities forprogress and prosperity of the region, he said.
In this context the Petroleum, Chemicals,Petrochemicals, Investment Region (PCPIR), being developed atParadip, will require manpower with varied skill sets forhydrocarbon and allied sectors, he added. PTI SKNRBT.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.