KOICA, BMET sign MoU to strengthen skills training

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) on Sunday signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Dhaka to strengthen skills training under the "Better Employment with Competency-Based Skills Training (BEST)" project.

The agreement brings together 13 large enterprises, 10 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association (BEIOA) in a public-private partnership designed to align technical training with industry demand, said a press release on Monday. 

The agreement, signed at a city hotel, aims to institutionalize public-private partnerships to align technical training with industrial demand and ensure a National Technical and Vocational Qualification Framework (NTVQF)-certified workforce.

KOICA Country Director Jihoon Kim said the initiative represents a practical model of cooperation, creating direct employment pathways for Bangladeshi youth. 

The DG of BMET and the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment lauded KOICA's support, terming the MoU a milestone in building a globally competitive workforce.