Mohali (Punjab), Oct 29 (IANS): The Punjab government will train over 100,000 youth in the construction industry that would enable them to find employment in the Gulf countries. It also signed a deal with online taxi giant Uber to train an equal number of people in driving, it was announced on Thursday.
Punjab Technical Education Minister Madan Mohan Mittal said at the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit 2015 that concluded here on Thursday that skill development was one of the essential ingredients for India's future economic growth.
He said training in construction work with a proper certificate and degree would enable the youth to seek work visas in Australia, the US, Saudi Arabia and other labour-deficient countries.
Inviting investment in skill development, he said the private sector with its expertise and targeted approach could play a very critical role in shaping skills.
He said the Vardhman and Tata groups have set up full-fledged training centres in the state. In addition, Centrum, Genesis and Nasscom are working with the government in a comprehensive manner.
Uber India president Amit Jain said the company would train 50,000 men and an equal number of women drivers in English and etiquette and they would be employed in other states as per the increasing requirement of radio taxies.
The drivers would get certificates and would be eligible to work abroad driving heavy duty vehicles especially in the US and Canada.