Enhance skills to plug gaps at managerial level

Training institutes and master trainers are highly required to build managerial skills in the country's workforce and plug the gap in managerial positions at local manufacturing and service industries, according to experts.

They were addressing a virtual policy dialogue on "Skills and Managers", organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) to formulate specific recommendations for creating skilled workers for investment, domestic market development, and export diversification.

"Work needs to be done to close the sector-wise gap. This will add value to the country and abroad in all fields as productivity will increase," said FBCCI President Jashim Uddin.

As a result of the massive digitisation process taking place across Bangladesh, new and innovative economic activities are being conducted.

However, structural changes in domestic education are now the main challenge for providing the necessary skilled workers, he added.

Besides, the country's workforce must now acquire technical skills in the face of the fourth industrial revolution.

Uddin went on to say that it is very important to create skilled managers as well as skilled workers in line with modern technology.

"For this we require need-based specialisation. Special sector training centres can be run on a priority basis by joint ventures between the government and private sector," he said, adding that there was no substitute for proper training to make the country's overall economic activities more dynamic.

The FBCCI president also emphasised on bringing quality trainers from abroad for need-specific training.

Public-private partnerships are crucial in achieving the government goals, including Bangladesh's graduation from a least developed country in 2026.

"There is a need in the country to provide training for management positions at information technology based industries, trade and offices and to expand it to the marginal level on a massive scale," Uddin said.

Helal Uddin, director general of the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), said the manufacturing and service sectors require about 10 lakh entrants to the workforce each year.

"In order to fulfil the gap in all sectors, including training institutes and at the academic level, the DTE has taken necessary initiatives," he added.

Uddin suggested that public-private initiatives should be integrated to help create more skilled workers and managers.

He also mentioned a lack of databases on various institutions, limitations in technical education assessment, and lack of master trainers.

Abul Kasem Khan, chairman of Business Initiative Leading Development, suggested bringing skilled trainers from abroad as needed to build up skilled manpower at the managerial level.

He also said the country's educational curriculum be reshuffled as per industry requirements.

Besides, Bangladesh should use its demographic dividend to a greater extent to secure more benefits, Khan added.

Golam Moshi, former Bangladesh ambassador to Saudi Arabia, suggested introducing incentives for students of technical education to give a boost to the sector.

Alif Rudaba, member of National Skill Development Authority (NSDA), said proper instructors were needed to provide training.

"The NSDA even decided to allow higher education for advanced skill development of the learners and trainees," she added.

Moderated by Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque, chief executive officer of the FBCCI, the event was also addressed by Monowara Hakim Ali, president of the Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Shamim Ahmed, president of the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers & Exporters Association.