Lahore, March 04, 2019 (PPI-OT): The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has set a new valuable tradition by organizing the 1st Skills Olympic in the country that needs to be continued as a regular feature to create a revolution in the field of industrial skills. It was stated by Syed Javed Hassan, Chairman, National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTEC) while addressing as Chief Guest of the first- ever Skills Olympic arranged by SMEDA in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) and Infinity School of Engineering.
A ceremony held in this connection at Infinity School of Engineering was also addressed by Mr. Sher Ayub Khan, Chief Executive Officer SMEDA, Mr. Basharat Javaid, Vice Chairman PAAPAM, Mr. Abdur Razaq Gohar, CEO Infinity School of Engineering, Mr. Kaneki, Chief of JICA Experts’ team and Ms. UENO, Project Formulation Advisor, JICA.
Chairman NAVTEC informed that the skills Olympic are eternal part of development in the developed world since last 70 years. NAVTEC obtained membership of the World Skills Olympic two years back in 2017, he said and appreciated that SMEDA had laid a strong foundation to promote skills in the country by holding the first ever event of this kind. He lamented that in the past, Pakistan had been limited to the traditional skills and no serious initiatives were taken to promote new and innovative skills.
However, with advent of the organizations like NAVTEC and SMEDA, scope of new skills was being explored. Mr. Javed Hassan said that world industry was passing through the era of CNC Machines and Pakistan, too, needs to create multiple institutes based upon the CNC machines. He urged the private sector to come forward in this field and assured to arrange catalyst funding from the government to bring the CNC Machines projects on ground. But, he was of the firm opinion that the industry, especially auto parts sector should play a leading role in such projects.
Earlier, CEO SMEDA, in his address of welcome informed that SMEDA and JICA in collaboration with PAAPAM had been executing a 4 years’ comprehensive “Technical Support Program for Auto Parts Manufacturing Industry” since 2015. The program, with the involvement of over 50 auto parts manufacturing concerns in the country under the guidance of 5 Japanese experts has added Japanese expertise in the quality production of auto parts, he said and informed that the 1st Skills Olympic held today had involved shop floor workers from participating auto parts suppliers, who competed under 11 diverse technical skills including Welding, Painting, Cutting and Machining, Surface Finish, Parts inspection, Fork Lifter Driving etc.
The tasks in the competitions were designed by the Japanese experts in line with international best practices, he said and hoped that similar initiatives would be organized by the sector stakeholders in future in collaboration with SMEDA. He expressed special thanks to JICA for their continued support to SMEDA in the development of SMEs of Pakistan and also commended the hard work put in by the Japanese Experts, SMEDA and PAAPAM teams for making this event a success.
For more information, contact:
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Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA)
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PPI News Agency