Skill India and World Bank organize 'Knowledge Sharing Workshop' for African delegates

Capacity building and knowledge exchange support from India for African countries is the central theme of the workshop.

The five day workshop is a culmination of a conference on Partnership for Skills in the Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) organized in April this year in Nairobi, Kenya.

The African countries that participated in the PASET Forum requested for support and knowledge exchange for African countries with India in the area of skills development (SD) and vocational education. The workshop includes discussions with Indian counterparts at the national level and field visits to two states, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

The five day workshop will have technical sessions around Short Term and long term Skill Development system in India, Skills Qualifications Development and Certification, Skill Development and Challenges in African Countries- Expectation from India, Skills Development and Economic Growth, India - Africa Collaboration on Skill Development – areas and opportunities, Public Private Partnership in Skill Development and role of Sector Skills Councils etc.

Welcoming the ministers, Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship at the Knowledge Sharing Workshop said, “I welcome delegations from African countries. India and Africa share very good relations for ages. Both India and Africa have potential to address the global skilled resources shortages. As our honorable Shri Narendra Modi has said that Future is for India and Africa to build together.”

Pradhan further said, “The dialogue initiated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the 3rd India Africa Forum Summit is now being continued through this India Africa Knowledge exchange mission with skill development as one of the main agenda.”

“Africa has become one of the fastest growing regions in the world. The needs of African nations are divergent and their strengths varied. India’s focus over the last few decades has largely been on capacity building in the African continent. We aim to enhance our strategic ties for development of youth in the skill development and vocational training sector,” Pradhan further added. 

Annette Dixon, Vice President for World Bank’s South Asia region said, “This knowledge exchange workshop is an important beginning. We are confident that it will help forge a strong partnership between India and the six African countries keen to learn from India's experience in skills development and vocational training - as it strides to implement one of world’s largest skills programs.”