India’s Market and Competent Manpower make it a Preferred Destination: Shri Dharmendra Pradhan
“If we combine the Indian market with Indian innovation, we will be able create a brand for our technology,” said Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship while speaking at the CII Annual Session 2023, the flagship convention for Indian industry, held under the theme Future Frontiers: Competitiveness, Technology, Sustainability and Internationalization.
The session focused on the government’s vision and strategies to create a cadre of future-ready and readily deployable workforce, exploring the best models in early childhood education, reducing curriculum load, holistic development, multidisciplinary approach, vocational skills, inclusion and the integration of technology in the National Education Policy (NEP).
The minister labelled education and skill as the ‘mother track’ for India’s G20 presidency, adding that there is a need for a complete paradigm shift, with a greater emphasis on development of competence. Indian industry needs to realise its shared responsibility in this sphere. Government and industry need to come together to invest in and develop quality education and quality skills for India’s workforce.
Mr Sanjiv Bajaj, President, CII and CMD, Bajaj Finserv Limited, in his welcoming remarks said that this is a significant year for India as the country is 75 years of independence. CII, as the secretariat of the B20, the business engagement group of the G20, has a task force on ‘Future of Work, Skilling and Mobility’, which is mandated with putting employment and skilling opportunities and challenges at the forefront of government strategies. He emphasised that there is a need for regular upskilling and not just one-time skilling, adding that CII has made skill development a priority agenda.
Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, moderated the session.
CII’s Annual Session, held on 24–25 May 2023, brought together eminent leaders, strategic thinkers, leading economists, young icons from various fields and captains of industry to capture their perspectives across nine major tracks and saw participation of almost 2,500 delegates.
In a parallel session, on Employment and Employability, panelists emphasized the role of technology as a key enabler in creating the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Addressed by key executives from technology, hospitality, education and logistics companies, the session deliberated on the immense role of technology in today’s businesses as its backbone, the conversation around broad-basing entrepreneurship with an emphasis on accelerating the start-up ecosystem and addressing the skills gap in tier-II and tier-III cities.
24 May 2023
New Delhi