* AMAN ARORA DIGITALLY INAUGURATES 23 TRAINING CENTRES COMPRISING 750 CANDIDATES STATEWIDE

* EMPLOYMENT GENERATION MINISTER FELICITATES WINNERS OF WORLD SKILLS COMPETITION

Chandigarh, September 17:

The Punjab Skill Development Mission (PSDM) has achieved a major milestone by signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 20 industries and industry associations, paving the way for 50,000 job opportunities in the state.

This breakthrough was announced by Mr. Aman Arora, the Minister of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training, at the Chief Executive Officers (CxO) Meet-2024, organised to foster collaboration among industry leaders, policymakers and stakeholders.

Mr. Aman Arora graced the event as a Chief Guest, during which MoUs with with 20 industries including National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), Industry Associations from Mohali (SAS Nagar) Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala were inked.

Mr. Aman Arora digitally inaugurated 23 training centres comprising 750 candidates statewide. Additionally, the cabinet minister felicitated 100 winners of the World Skills Competition with medals and certificates.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Aman Arora emphasised that skill development is crucial at present, highlighting Punjab's accomplishments in this area while acknowledging that there is still a long journey ahead to achieve the desired goals. He also urged the industry to actively participate in the mission of empowering the youth of the state with enhanced employability skills.

Mr. Aman Arora further said that the Punjab Skill Development Mission (PSDM) organised this event to unite all stakeholders at one platform, while assuring that the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, would provide full support, encouraging the industry to collaborate in refining the skills of the youth.

Principal Secretary Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Mrs. Jaspreet Talwar spoke about the initiative that focuses on fostering collaboration and dialogue among senior executives in the skill development sector. She said that the main objective of the event was centred around aligning skill development programs with industry requirements, enhancing employment opportunities and fortifying the skill ecosystem in the state.

A panel discussion on "Shaping the Future of Our Youth & Workforce" explored how to align the youth and workforce of the state with employment opportunities in the evolving market scenario. Principal Secretary Mrs. Jaspreet Talwar, Punjab Development Commission Vice Chairperson Ms. Seema Bansal, Assistant Director National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Mr. Ranghey Raghaw, VC Baba Farid Health and Medical Sciences University Dr. Rajeev Sood, Director of Education for North India, Microsoft Ms. Swati Kaushal, Head Domestic Marketing Network of Larsen & Toubro Mr. Sanjeev Sharma, Regional Director, RDSDE Punjab Lt. Col Vishal Arora, Director Department of Training & Technical Education and Higher Education, New Delhi Mr. Bhupesh Chaudhary and Chairman PHDCCI Mr. Rupinder Sachdeva participated in the panel discussion.

Mission Director PSDM Ms. Amrit Singh, expressed gratitude to all the panelists and highlighted that this event would help to create sustainable employment opportunities for skilled youth in Punjab under the DDU-GKY initiative.

Director of Mai Bhago AFPI Major General Jasbir Singh Sandhu, AVSM (Retd.) and Director of Maharaja Ranjit Singh AFPI Major General Ajay H. Chauhan VSM (Retd.), Director General C-PYTE Major General (Retd.) Rambir Mann and other senior officials of the state government were also present in the meet.

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