The Bangladesh government, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the European Union (EU) signed a joint declaration of launching a project called ‘Skills 21’. It is aimed at developing a skills training module of international standards in line with the demand from global labour market.

Under the €20 million project, the ILO and EU will work for institutional development of technical education under the technical and vocational education and training program and also to improve the skills development module in Bangladesh, says ILO director-general Guy Ryder.

EU ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon points out Bangladesh is in need of a skilled labour force to ensure the sustainability of its economic growth. The Skills 21 project would help Bangladesh to define a national skills development policy and the EU would continue its support for further developing and completing the establishment of a comprehensive and coherent TVET system and its institutional setup for a long-term effectiveness, the envoy said.

Bangladesh education minister Nurul Islam Nahid believes the EU project would support the commitments of the government to inclusive economic growth and full and productive employment for all. He says a skilled and productive workforce would make a major contribution to the Bangladesh’s goal of becoming a middle-income country by 2021.