India, Jan. 20 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India, Shri Jayant Chaudhary visited the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, during his two-day tour of Assam. During the visit, the Minister reviewed the newly operationalised Skill India International Centre (SIIC) at the IIE campus, a flagship initiative aimed at promoting international skill standards and expanding global overseas opportunities for Indian youth, particularly from the North Eastern Region.
Emphasising the Government's vision of building a globally competitive and future-ready workforce, Shri Jayant Chaudhary said, "India's growth story will increasingly be written by the skills, adaptability, and entrepreneurial confidence of its youth. The innovation and enterprise being practiced and demonstrated at the IIE and SIIC in Guwahati reflect the transformative impact of skills at the grassroots. From global language training to entrepreneurship development, these initiatives are preparing local talent for global opportunities."
"As we move towards a knowledge-driven and globally integrated economy, our focus is not just on creating skilled workers, but on nurturing agile talent that can innovate, compete, and lead across borders. Institutions like IIE and SIIC are pivotal in ensuring that opportunity is not limited by geography, but expanded by capability," he added.
The existing infrastructure at SIIC, Guwahati includes language classroom, IT laboratory and a skill lab. At present, training is being imparted to two batches under the Japanese Language Training programme aligned to JLPT N5/JFT-equivalent standards. Future batches are planned for JLPT N5 and N4 levels, as well as English language training. Since the Centre is located within the IIE campus, which has hostel facilities, trainees may also avail boarding and lodging arrangements.
During the visit, Shri Jayant Chaudhary interacted with candidates undergoing Japanese language training at the SIIC, who are being prepared to explore overseas opportunities in Japan. The Minister engaged with the trainees on their learning journey, aspirations, and preparedness for overseas employment, and encouraged them to leverage language skills, cultural orientation, and technical competencies to succeed in global work environments.
The Minister also toured key facilities at IIE, including the Mountaineering Sports Arena that promotes adventure sports such as rock and mountain climbing in the North Eastern Region, the Apparel Incubation Centre, and the TRISSAM outlet, which showcase entrepreneurship, indigenous products, and local innovation where he also picked up authentic Assamese pickle, appreciating it as a compelling example of local enterprise successfully accessing wider markets. He also planted a Nahar sapling on the campus, symbolising sustainability, growth, and long-term institutional development.
During his interactions, the Minister met Ms. Junmoni Devi from Morigaon, Assam, a mushroom farmer who has trained over 100 farmers, empowered rural women through sustainable livelihood models, and developed value-added products such as pickles and protein-based foods, supported through market linkages facilitated by the IIE Guwahati.
Interacting with stakeholders from the skill development and entrepreneurship ecosystem, along with senior officials of the Government of Assam, Shri Jayant Chaudhary discussed ways to further strengthen skilling initiatives, encourage entrepreneurship, and enhance employability, especially for youth in the North Eastern Region. Emphasising the role of skills in nation-building, the Minister noted that skills provide dignity, pride, and empowerment, and reaffirmed the Government's commitment to ensuring that no talent goes unnoticed or unsupported, regardless of geography. He underscored the vision of nurturing youth not only as job seekers, but as job creators.
Welcoming the Minister, Shri Pritam Dutta, Director, MSDE and IIE, thanked him for his visit and reaffirmed IIE's commitment to advancing Skill India initiatives, nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the North Eastern Region.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
