The Maharashtra government on Wednesday entered into an agreement with the German state of Baden-Württemberg to facilitate employment opportunities for skilled professionals. Under this agreement, job openings will be made available across various sectors in Baden-Württemberg, with a particular focus on providing necessary training for prospective employees, said Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha.
A delegation of education experts from Baden-Württemberg is on an official visit to Maharashtra from March 16 to 22. They met officials at the Maharashtra State Innovation Society, where Lodha and senior officials welcomed them. The delegation includes Konrad Neffu, Head of International Cooperation, Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Education, Florian Lepold, Senior Advisor for Vocational Training, Jochen Mann, Director of Skills and Employment, Andrej Hornar, Policy Advisor for Workforce Development, and Bette Wagner, Education Consultant.
“This agreement will not only create job opportunities abroad for Marathi youth but also equip them with the necessary skills and German language training,” said Lodha. He added that given the global shortage of skilled manpower, integrating German industry requirements into Maharashtra’s training institutions would be a key focus.
The delegation visited the Devgiri Government Training Institute in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the Agricultural Skill Development Center, the National Skill Development Center in Chunabhatti, Mumbai, and the Government Industrial Training Institute in Pune. They interacted with teachers and students to understand the curriculum and training methods.
Neffu, Head of International Cooperation at the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Education, explained the delegation’s goal: “We aim to understand Maharashtra’s skill development structure and explore how both regions can collaborate to meet workforce demands.”
During the visit, Additional Chief Secretary Manisha Varma delivered a presentation on Maharashtra’s vocational training institutions, their programmes, and the broader initiatives spearheaded by the Skill Development Department. Rahul Rekhawar, Director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training, also provided insights into the state’s educational initiatives, outlining key developments in training and workforce preparation.
