HSBC Bangladesh and non-governmental organisation Ucep Bangladesh have teamed up to provide training on skills and capacity development to underprivileged young people to prepare them for today’s workplace. The two signed an agreement to run the HSBC–Ucep Skills Development Programme at an event at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka yesterday. Francois de Maricourt, chief executive officer of HSBC Bangladesh, and Tahsinah Ahmed, executive director of the Ucep Bangladesh, inked the agreement. The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) will support the programme. “In Bangladesh, there is a lack of skilled workforce,” said Ahmad Kaikaus, principal secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office, while addressing the event. “We don’t have plenty of natural resources. So, we have to build skilled human resources to increase the production in the industrial sector.” The Beza has received $20 billion in investment proposals from home and abroad, said Paban Chowdhury, executive chairman of the Beza. The agency is working to change the scenario of the country’s industrial sector, he said. On the agreement, Chowdhury said the Ucep would supply skilled workers to the industrial units of the zones. If the government cooperates with entrepreneurs, the economy will grow very swiftly, said Mostafa Kamal, chairman of Meghna Group of Industries. Fazlur Rahman, chairman of City Group, urged the government to address the ease of doing business issues to help businesses, who are the driving force of the economy. He, however, appreciated the government officials as their mindset is gradually changing and they are becoming pro business-minded. The training programme will also provide training to those with disabilities in order to turn them into skilled workforce and give them an equal access to better livelihood. HSBC has a long-term pledge to support people and give them access to education and training, so they can acquire the skills they need to succeed in today’s workplace, said the largest trade bank in the country in a statement. The programme intends to bridge between two needs — the employment need of youth from underprivileged communities and the continued need of skilled workforce — for the economic zones in Bangladesh. It will make youth interested about the prospects of job opportunities in the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar by obtaining technical skills demanded by industries. Considering the skills demand of industries and future trends of the requirements of skilled workforce in the economic zones, two trade courses — namely industrial sewing machine operation and electrical installation and maintenance — have been proposed under the programme. The graduates will be supported for job placement in local and national industries as well as in the economic zones in Mirsarai, the statement said. The British lender opened its first branch in Bangladesh in 1996. Currently, it operates in both the major commercial hubs of Dhaka and Chattogram and has presence in all eight export processing zones. Md Mahbub ur Rahman, deputy CEO and head of wholesale banking of the bank; MA Jabbar, managing director of DBL Group; and Parveen Mahmud, chairperson of the Ucep Bangladesh, also spoke.
