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Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 24 (IANS) Kerala Labor and Finance Ministers V Sivankutty and KN Balagopal on Friday held a high-level meeting with a German delegation to explore investment opportunities and strengthen cooperation in employment generation and skill development.
The event, organized under the aegis of Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE), was attended by 27 German delegates led by German Consul General Achim Burkat.
Labor Minister Sivankutty highlighted Kerala’s proactive steps in the last year to collaborate with foreign countries to create jobs and attract new investments.
Sivankutty said, “Kerala’s strength lies in its industry-friendly environment, peaceful society and highly skilled workforce. Germany is known globally for its technical expertise and discipline. Our educated and talented youth can help overcome the current shortage of skilled workers in Germany.”
Thousands of ITI and polytechnic graduates in Kerala are employable, he said, adding that with structured German language training and professional orientation, they can contribute meaningfully to Germany’s workforce.
In collaboration with Goethe-Institut and OSD (Osterreichische Sprachdiplome Deutsche), Kerala has become the first state in India to standardize German language training through KASE. International certification agencies including TELC and ECL are also part of the initiative to ensure high quality and accessible language training for job-seeking candidates targeting German employment opportunities.
The Minister urged the German delegation to invest in Kerala and create new avenues of employment for the youth of the State by taking advantage of Kerala’s industrial strength and human resource potential.
Finance Minister Balagopal emphasized the long-standing socio-economic ties between Kerala and Germany and called for deeper engagement and investment.
Balagopal said, “Kerala shares a long relationship with Germany. Many Malayalees, especially in the healthcare sector, have settled there since the turn of the 20th century, with their next generation growing up in Germany. German technology and equipment are widely respected in Kerala, and we look forward to greater German participation in our development journey.”
Senior officials including TV Anupama, Special Secretary, Labor and Skill Development Department; C. Sambasiva Rao, Special Secretary, Electronics and IT; Vishnuraj, Managing Director, KSIDC; And Sufiyan Ahmed, Managing Director, KASE also participated in the discussion.
The meeting is expected to pave the way for increased German investment in Kerala, high quality skill development initiatives and expanded international employment opportunities for the youth of the state.
–IANS
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