The New Nation - Internet Edition

Business Report

Bangladesh's leading shipbuilding firm, Western Marine Group, has signed Memorandum of Understanding with two government agencies to develop skilled manpower for the rising shipbuilding industry.

Western Marine Group signed the two separate MoUs with the Department of Youth Development under the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Narayanganj-based Institute of Marine Technology under the Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry on Wednesday. The Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training runs the Institute of Marine Technology.

Director General of the Department of Youth Development Fakhrul Islam, Md Alamgir, Principal of Institute of Marine Technology, and Executive Director of Western Marine Services Limited and Chief Executive of Western Marine Institute Engr. Sajid Hussain signed the MoUs on behalf of their respective organisations. Earlier, the group signed similar deal with Chittagong-based Technical Training Centre on August 11.

The office of the Chief Adviser in April asked for public-private partnership to launch short-term courses on shipbuilding to produce skilled workforce for the booming industry.

Western Marine Group established Western Marine Institute in July after getting approval from the Technical Education Board. Under the MoUs, Western Marine Institute will offer course on 'Welding and Fabrication' jointly with Chittagong based Youth Development Training Centre and Narayanganj based Institute of Marine Technology. Spoken English course will also be provided to the Students to hone their language skill. After receiving training, participants will acquire necessary skills to find jobs in shipbuilding sector in home and abroad. Director General of the Directorate of Youth Development Fakhrul Islam hoped that the present activities of the department will get boost due to this association with the country's one of the leading shipbuilding company. Executive Director of Western Marine Services Limited and Chief Executive of Western Marine Institute Engr. Sajid Hussain said this tie-up with the government would prove that Bangladesh's huge population could be turned into human resources. He said 11 welders/fitters, who received training from the Western Marine Institute, have already selected for working in a Dubai based shipyard.

Md Nasir Uddin Ahmed, Director (Administration), and Mr KM Amanur Rahman, Director (Training), among others, were present during the signing ceremony. Director General of the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training Mr Md Abdul Malek hoped that Bangladesh will be able to take a commendable position in the world labour market in shipbuilding industry due to this pact with Western Marine. Engr. Sajid Hussain of Western Marine Institute termed skilled manpower as 'Human Software' for shipbuilding industry. He said knowledge on welding and fabrication is a basic prerequisite for shipbuilding.

During the signing ceremony with the manpower bureau, Engr. Hussain also said that through an initiative by the Managing Director Engr. Sakhawat Hossain, Western Marine Shipyard has received order from a French company to build four ocean-going ships during a shipbuilding fair held in Germany's Hamburg between September 23 and 24.

The company so far received orders to manufacture 21 ocean-ships amount to $210 million, he added.

Additional Director General of the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training Md Hazrat Ali and Director (Training) Ahsan Habib, Md Alamgir, Principal of Institute of Marine Technology, among others, were present during the signing ceremony held at the bureau's office in Dhaka.