Desk Report
There is enormous skills gap at mid and higher level managerial positions in the industrial sectors. Approximately 2,00,000 foreigners are currently working in various industries in Bangladesh mostly in garment and textile sector and remitting out annually about U$ 5 billion. The bulk of these workers are supervisors and managers in RMG and Textile sector. Against this backdrop, the SEIP Project of Finance Division under Ministry of Finance will work with the industrialists and leading universities of the country to establish ‘Executive Development Centers’ (EDC) at the universities to conduct a nine-month training program to develop world class mid and higher level managers.
Bangladesh is moving fast with the development of textile industry. Now it’s high time to think about special economic zone and BCS cadre for textile engineers, according to Engr. Md. Shafiqur Rahman, Chairman, Textile Engineering Division, Institute of Engineers while he was talking in a focus group discussion at Bangladesh University of Textiles. Executive Development Program (EDP), Skills for Employment Investment Program (SEIP), Bangladesh University of Textiles organized the focus group discussion on “Identifying the skill gap between local & foreign experts working in textile industry in Bangladesh” recently. In the discussion session Professor Engr. Mashud Ahmed, Vice Chancellor, Bangladesh University of Textiles was present as chief guest while Mr. Abdur Rouf Talukder, Executive Project Director, Skills for Employment Investment Program (SEIP), Finance Division, Ministry of Finance was present as special guest. Senior textile professionals from different industry were present and shared their experience on skill development issues. The discussion session was presided by Professor Dr. Mohammad Ali, Chief Coordinator, Executive Development Program (EDP), BUTEX.
According to chief coordinator, Executive Development Program (EDP), BUTEX, Professor Dr. Mohammad Ali, “The concept of Executive Development Center (EDC) used here will be an entity that will support to develop world class business executives. The skills level of mid and higher level managers and supervisors in Bangladesh has not attained the required standard and they lack adequate professional skills including merchandising, communication with business world, planning & designing of the production processes, business ethos, leadership, motivational skills etc.” Dr. Ali also mentioned that in order to fill up the skill gaps, a total of 2,250 trainees over a three year period for selected four subsectors would be trained under this program during the second phase of SEIP which is starting this year 2017. The program with selected universities will be continued in the future under successive phases of SEIP depending on its outcome and demand. The SEIP Project will continue up to 2024 giving it a long term perspective.
