-Chandigarh, Sep 3rd 2024 : India’s leading industry body, the Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry in India (ASSOCHAM) Northern Region and Centre for training and employment of Punjab Youth(C-PYTE) Govt. of Punjab organized the ‘Conclave on Skill Development for A&D Sectors and MSME Sectors’ Hon’ble Minister for Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training, Government of Punjab Aman Arora inaugurated the event.
“With an aim to make the state a leader in the defence industry and create a conducive environment for long-term growth and sustainability, Punjab Government will bring a comprehensive policy for skill development in the Aerospace & Defence (A&D)”, The minister said.
Aman Arora directed the Principal Secretary Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Mrs. Jaspreet Talwar and Director General C-PYTE Major General Rambir Mann to form a group of all stakeholders to draft a policy for skill development within the Aerospace & Defence (A&D) and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sectors. He said that most private industry jobs in aerospace are in civil aviation, general aviation, military aircraft and missiles, communication satellites and military and commercial launch vehicles. The state’s upcoming policy would exploit these sectors to provide maximum job opportunities for youth of the state.
Wooing the Industry leaders for investing in this sector, Aman Arora said that Punjab has a rich legacy in the field of defence and it offers huge potential for the growth of defence Industry. Besides, extending many incentives and providing conducive environment for industrial growth, the state has robust infrastructure including two International Airports at Mohali and Amritsar, domestic Airports at Ludhiana, Bathinda and Jalandhar and one of the Largest Airforce Bases of India in Adampur. He added that Punjab also has a strong R&D support for Advanced Manufacturing, Large MSME base for engineering, availability of Focused Educational Infrastructure and Established Aviation Clubs in Punjab.
Aman Arora said that Skill development is at the core of unlocking Punjab’s potential in the Defence. He added that this conclave will help to gain valuable insights and opportunities for collaboration, and further enhancing the skill development efforts in Punjab. He also emphasized that collaboration with industry will help to identify skill gaps and develop targeted training programs to address these gaps.
Principal Secretary Mrs. Jaspreet Talwar urged the industry leaders to provide their inputs as collaborations between the government, educational institutions and industry leaders are essential to meet the evolving needs of the sector. Such collaborations would also facilitate the exchange of knowledge and emerging trends. The Government programs would be tailored to address the specific skill requirements of the Aerospace & Defence sectors and align with industry standards and expectations. Moreover, continuous engagement with industry stakeholders is vital to understanding emerging trends and technological advancements.
Welcoming the Industry leaders and delegates, Director Employment Generation Ms. Amrit Singh highlighted the efforts being made by the state government in enhancing the skills of youth to make them employable. She said that research and development (R&D) initiatives within the state will contribute to the advancement of cutting-edge defence technologies and enhance our capability to produce advanced defence equipment.
Mr. Abhi Bansal, Chairman, ASSOCHAM Punjab state council and Director, Saraswati Group of Companies addressed the audience, emphasizing the importance of this conclave as a pivotal platform to explore opportunities for expanding defence units in Punjab and deliberate on supportive policies, defence corridors, and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to advance our defence industry.
“Our goal is to position Punjab as a preferred investment hub that drives innovation and entrepreneurship, and I am sure with the collaboration of Government, Industry and Academia, we will be able to achieve it,” he said.
DG CPYTE Major Gen (Dr) R S Mann; ADG Army Design Bureau Major General CS Mann; Chief Nodal Officer, Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor Major General I.M. Lamba (Retd.); Chairman Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd. Mr. Rajinder Singh Bhatia; Regional Head NSDC International Mr. Rajat Bhatnagar; Chairman ASSOCHAM Chandigarh & CFO, SML ISUZU Limited Mr. Rakesh Bhalla; Co-Chairman ASSOCHAM Punjab & Executive Director, Punjab Film City Mr. Iqbal Cheema also addressed the conclave.
