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40/ 2010
Bonn, 08.10.2010
BIBB concludes cooperation agreement with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
The expertise and VET services offered by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) are in increasing demand at a worldwide level. A cooperation agreement between BIBB and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) was concluded today, Friday, in the presence of the Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma. The agreement provides for a regular exchange of experiences across a large number of vocational education and training fields, such as quality assurance, training VET staff, the development of vocational education and training standards, examinations and certifications.
BIBB President Manfred Kremer made the following declaration to mark the signing of the agreement. "Vocational training is the flagship of the German educational system. The high degree of practical relevance of the German vocational education and training system means that it enjoys considerable prestige right across the world. BIBB has reacted to increased demand from abroad by significantly expanding its international activities. For this reason, the agreement with India fits seamlessly into this strategy. I am particularly pleased that the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry is seeking to reform the VET system in India by seeking a partnership with BIBB."
At the same time, iMOVE (International Marketing of Vocational Education, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, BMBF, housed at BIBB) has concluded a further agreement with the Indian delegation in which both partners have committed to close collaboration in the initiating of contacts between initial and continuing training providers and companies. iMOVE supports German providers of initial and continuing vocational education and training by offering extensive service provision for the development of international markets. iMOVE advertises German expertise in company-based initial and continuing training abroad via the slogan "Training - Made in Germany" (www.imove-germany.de ).
Since 2008, BIBB and iMOVE have been cooperating closely with the Indian government and associations within the scope of the German-Indian VET Working Group set up under the lead management of BIBB. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the largest and oldest association of its kind in India with more than 80,000 members, has proved itself to be a committed and interested partner with regard to VET related issues. This year has already seen the association stage its third "FICCI Global Skills Summit", a policy-making, economic and social forum which addresses current VET reform topics. BIBB has been involved in the "Global Skills Summit" since its outset (http://www.bibb.de/en/52104.htm ).
The establishment of the German-Indian Working Group has its origins in a commitment made by Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2007 when she assured the Indian Prime Minister at the time, Manmohan Singh, of close cooperation in issues related to vocational training. Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma indicated the high degree of importance attached to the development of vocational training by the Indian government by pointing out that around 200 million young Indians will reach employment age over the next ten years. These young people will require vocational education and training in order to be in a position to secure their own livelihoods, support the enormous growth India is undergoing and cover the rising requirement for skilled workers.
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