Bhubaneswar: In a significant push to strengthen Odisha’s skilling ecosystem and align it more closely with industry demands, four strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged on Wednesday at the World Skill Center in Bhubaneswar in the presence of Industries and Skill Development & Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister reiterated that preparing Odisha’s youth to become industry-ready remains a central priority of the State Government. He emphasised that while infrastructure lays the foundation for industrial growth, it is skill development that builds the human capital required to sustain and expand industries. Describing skill development as a core economic strategy rather than a peripheral welfare initiative, he said empowering youth with relevant and future-ready skills is critical for inclusive growth and enhancing Odisha’s global competitiveness.
A major highlight of the event was the signing of a partnership with Tata Technologies to upgrade 22 Government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across Odisha into Centres of Excellence at a total project cost of ₹779 crore. Under the agreement, the Government of Odisha will contribute 14 per cent of the project cost, while Tata Technologies will bear approximately 86 per cent.
The upgraded ITIs will feature state-of-the-art laboratories and industry-grade equipment, ensuring that training infrastructure matches modern industrial standards. The Centres of Excellence will focus on high-growth and emerging sectors including automobile and electric vehicles, design and verification tools, 3D printing and additive manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT), robotics and advanced manufacturing, advanced CNC and VMC machining, advanced plumbing technology, and process control and automation technology.
Tata Technologies will also provide comprehensive handholding support for five years, including deployment of trainers, maintenance of equipment, and facilitation of placements to ensure strong industry linkages and sustainable outcomes.
Three additional MoUs were also exchanged during the ceremony. A collaboration with UNICEF will leverage the YouthHub platform to enable placement of more than 2,000 girls through digital skilling and an outcome-based funding model.
The World Skill Center signed an agreement with Kawasaki Robotics India Pvt. Ltd. to enhance capacity in robotics, automation and Industry 4.0 technologies, equipping youth for advanced manufacturing ecosystems. Another MoU between the World Skill Center and Atreya Global Pvt. Limited aims to create structured overseas employment pathways in Germany and other European countries by integrating skill training, language instruction, placement facilitation and post-placement support.
Among those present were Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Skill Development & Technical Education Department; Chakravarti Singh Rathore, Director, Technical Education & Training; Rashmi Mohapatra, Chief Executive Officer, World Skill Center; Hiroshi Miyake, Managing Director, Kawasaki Robotics India Pvt. Ltd.; Prasanta Dash, Chief, Field Office, UNICEF Odisha; Pradipta Kumar Das, Chief Operating Officer, Atreya Global Pvt. Limited; and Yatendra Kumar, Head, Global Delivery, Tata Technologies.
The exchange of MoUs marks a decisive step in Odisha’s broader strategy to modernise technical education, strengthen industry partnerships and expand global employment opportunities for its youth.
