Friendly assistance: Turkey to help upgrade textile curricula

Will provide training, set up state-of-the-art institute.

FAISALABAD:

Turkey will cooperate in the upgrading of textile curricula in addition to providing experts and master trainers to improve the overall skill and expertise of the Pakistani workforce. This was said by Turkish International Cooperation Agency (TIKA) Country Coordinator Pakistan Mustfa Giray Tezel while addressing members of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI).

Tezel said that TIKA was operating in more than 100 countries with 33 offices in 30 countries. “We are cooperating in the humanitarian and skill development sectors in order to improve the overall efficiency of friendly countries,” he said, adding that his recent visit to Faisalabad will help him understand grey areas where the textile industry requires necessary skills and expertise.

“We would arrange Turkish experts to impart training to the Pakistani workforce in order to fulfill the requirement of local industrial textile units especially those engaged in export to European countries,” he informed the audience.

Referring to his visit, he said that he will consolidate various proposals presented during this visit and evaluate them to understand where the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) requires assistance. In this connection a proposal was under consideration to set up a state-of-the-art textile institute in Faisalabad or Lahore.

Earlier, FCCI President Engineer Suhail Bin Rashid, in his welcome address, appreciated the support of Turkey in helping Pakistan improve its economy and bring a qualitative improvement in its socio-economic environment.

He said that recently a Chinese company has entered into an agreement with a local textile giant to establish state-of-the-art textile units in M-3 industrial Estate in addition to the establishment of a 300-megawatt coal-fired plant. This company will invest $2 billion. Rashid hoped that Turkey will not only increase its trade with Pakistan but also help the country in transfer of technology and technical know-how.

A TEVTA official said the body has already arranged 18 different textile related courses of different duration, adding that it is very encouraging to know that most of the trainees acquired jobs immediately upon completion of their courses.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2014.

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