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Taking the global knowledge exchanges at the 4^th PASET Forum in April 2017 one step further, the World Bank and India¡¯s Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship organized a 5-day Knowledge exchange mission on skills development for delegates from six African countries under the PASET umbrella.
 
The participating African countries at the workshop, held in New Delhi on Oct. 30 ¨C Nov. 3, included Rwanda, Ethiopia, Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Their key objectives were to:

• Identify the challenges of addressing the skills development needs of the informal sector across India and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
• Discuss strategies for enhancing labor force productivity through institutional reforms at the national and state levels both in India and SSA
• Study innovative models of employer led skilling strategies for enhancing industry competitiveness
• Studying the role of the federal and state governments and key institutional reforms for successful delivery of skills training
• Discuss the longer formal training systems under TVET and its delivery models

Prof. Mary Teuw Niane, Minister of Higher Education and Research, Government of Senegal said in his address to the participants, ¡°I have no doubt that like Julius Ceaser, PASET's members and potential members will soon be saying, we came, we saw, and we were convinced that India's model of skill development is an excellent one to address our own challenges of employability and professional integration of African youth, who instead of being a disadvantage can provide real leverage in the emergence of our continent.¡±

At the workshop, the Government of India¡¯s Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship agreed to formalize its partnership in skill development for the African region with PASET and the World Bank by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the near future. 

The workshop included field visits to the Indian states of Maharashtra and Rajasthan. It was attended by key ministers from India and Africa including Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, India¡¯s Minister of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas; Professor Mary Teuw Niane, Minister of Higher Education,Research and Innovation, Senegal and Chair of the PASET Board of Directors; Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Deputy Minister of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET)/Secondary Education, Ghana; Mr. Olivier Rwamukwaya, Minister of State, TVET, Rwanda; Mr. Teshome Lemma, State Minister for TVET, Ethiopia; Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria; and Dr. Leonard Akwilapo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Tanzania.

The event included technical sessions around short term and long term skill development systems and certifications in India, as well as areas and opportunities in Public Private Partnerships between India and African countries and the role of sector skills councils.
 
Minister Pradhan in his inauguration address said, ¡°The needs of African nations are divergent and their strengths varied. We aim to enhance our strategic ties for development of youth in the skill development and vocational training sector.¡± The Minister also announced to offer the scholarship and professional courses to African students through India's premiere institutions.
 
Annette Dixon, Vice President for the World Bank¡¯s South Asia region said, ¡°This knowledge exchange workshop is an important beginning. We are confident that it will help forge a strong partnership between India and the six African countries keen to learn from India¡¯s experience in skills development and vocational training ¨C as it strides to implement one of world¡¯s largest skills programs.¡±

The Workshop in the Media