Develop low cost, innovative solutions to meet

skills training demand: Swedish Minister

NEW DELHI, November 2, 2012. To bridge the demand-supply gap in skills training and
development, there is an imperative need to create innovative training solutions, Ms. Annie
Loof, the Swedish Minister of Enterprise, Sweden, said here today at an interactive session on
India & Sweden: Collaboration on Skills Development, organized by FICCIs Skills
Development Forum (SDF) in collaboration with the Swedish Chambers of Commerce.

The session addressed the challenges facing the skill development sector. Skill development is
based on collaboration, convergence and coordination. Vocational training is a strategic
component for economic growth in the future. It holds the key to create employable workforce
which will be armed with knowledge, creativity, entrepreneurship and innovative ideas.
Sweden along with India intends to achieve this goal by framing policies, setting up training
centres and collaborating with the Government and industry, Ms. Loof said.

Mr. Harald Sandberg, Ambassador of Sweden to India, stated, A structural imbalance can be
witnessed in the field of skills training and development. The majority of the worlds population
is ageing and India is one of the nations which comprises a high number of employable
workforce.

He added that by 2020, the average age in India would be 29 years, whereas, in countries like
China and the US the average age would be much higher, somewhere around 37. Hence, this
provides India with a great opportunity to train people and prepare them to enter the
workforce in different markets and sectors.

Mr. Sushil Ramola, CEO & MD, B-Abe, pointed out that by 2020 some of the major world
economies will face a shortage of 60 million skilled workforce, but around that time India will
have a projected surplus of 47 million skilled workers. However, to bridge this gap, exchange of
ideas is a must where policies are framed in collaboration with other nations. Programme
funding, content, assessment, certification and placement are the other areas which must be
focused on. A low price, high volume mechanism must be evolved to impart skill development.
Mr. Ulf Rudebark, Vice President, Strategic Relations & Joint Ventures, Saab, said, CSR and
skilling of workers is high on almost every nations agenda. We plan to set up outstanding Saab
skill development centres. Training in both hard and soft skills will be imparted, and 110 hours
of soft skills training is included in the programme. Also, active relation between training and
industry must be maintained.

According to a McKinsey report, to bridge the demand and supply gap in skills sector, India
needs to improve its education system, said Mr. Sameer Khanna, Head-HR, Ericsson. India has
a globally employable pool of talent which requires training. Ericsson has developed many
training programmes such as Connect, Excel and Career which have been considerably
successful. In 2012-13, Ericsson plans to rebrand and re-launch their training programmes, he
said.

Mr. Sanjeev Duggal, CEO & Executive Director, Centum Learning and Co-Chair, FICCI-SDF,
highlighted the role of FICCIs SDF which engages stakeholders, aggregate initiatives and
develops capacities. The Indian Government is aiming to train 500 million people by 2022 and
SDF is supporting and facilitating this endeavor, he said.

Ms. Ambika Sharma, Deputy Secretary General & Head International, FICCI, said that India
with a population of 1.2 billion, which is increasing at a steady rate of 17 per cent, offers huge
scope for skill development and training. Only two per cent of Indias workforce has undergone
any kind of training or skill development. Hence there is a need to train people right at the grass
root level.

FICCI MEDIA DIVISION