The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, organised a programme on Skilling for International Mobility & PM-SETU', with a special focus on the Tourism and Hospitality sector in Guwahati today.
The programme brought together senior representatives of the Central and Assam Governments, industry stakeholders and the skilling ecosystem to deliberate on strengthening the North-Eastern Region's skilling infrastructure, expanding international employment opportunities for its youth and fostering industry-led transformation of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU).
The programme highlighted the immense potential of the North-Eastern Region in tourism and hospitality, particularly in the context of the growing demand for skilled professionals in domestic and international markets. Discussions focused on aligning skill development programmes with emerging industry requirements, international standards and opportunities for global workforce mobility.
Delivering the keynote address, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India, highlighted the importance of aligning India's skilling architecture with the changing requirements of industry and the global economy.
He emphasised that initiatives such as PM-SETU are aimed at bringing industry closer to skill development and training, ensuring that ITIs evolve into modern, demand-driven institutions capable of preparing young people for emerging opportunities.
"India's strength lies in the aspirations and capabilities of its youth. Through PM-SETU, we are working towards transforming our ITIs into modern, industry-responsive institutions that equip young people with skills relevant to the future of work. The North-Eastern Region has enormous potential, particularly in tourism and hospitality, and our endeavour is to ensure that its youth are not only prepared for opportunities within the country but are also equipped to participate confidently in the global workforce."
Shri Biswajit Daimary, Minister for Skills, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Sports and Youth Welfare, Handloom, Textile and Sericulture, and Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture, Government of Assam, in his special remarks, highlighted the importance of equipping the youth of Assam with industry-relevant skills and creating pathways to employment opportunities both within India and internationally.
"Assam and the entire North-Eastern Region have tremendous potential in sectors such as tourism and hospitality. Our priority is to ensure that the youth of the region are equipped with the right skills, exposure and opportunities to participate in the emerging global economy. Through stronger collaboration between the Central Government, the State Government and industry, we can build a robust skilling ecosystem that translates the aspirations of our youth into meaningful employment and entrepreneurship opportunities."
Smt. Manasi Sahay Thakur, IAS, Joint Secretary, MSDE, set the context for the programme and highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional and industry partnerships to create a future-ready workforce. She emphasised the need to connect the region's youth with emerging employment opportunities through demand-driven skilling and stronger institutional infrastructure.
CEO of Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), spoke about the potential of tourism and hospitality skilling in the North-Eastern Region and the opportunities emerging from the sector's growth. He highlighted the importance of developing industry-relevant competencies to enhance the employability of youth and prepare them for opportunities in the global hospitality ecosystem.
The programme featured a dedicated session on PM-SETU, highlighting opportunities for strengthening the skilling ecosystem in the North-Eastern Region through industry-responsive ITI transformation.
As part of the strategic partnerships announced during the programme, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and the Government of Assam for setting up of SIIC.
Letters of Intent (LoIs) were signed for two ITI clusters i.e Jorhat and Tinsukhia, supported by Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) and Oil India Limited (OIL), respectively, under the PM-SETU scheme. This marks a significant milestone in strengthening industry participation and fostering industry-led transformation of the vocational education and training ecosystem in the region.
The programme also deliberated on international mobility and WorldSkills as avenues for expanding opportunities for young people from the North-Eastern Region.
The Government of Assam also presented its CM FLIGHT Scheme and the vision for a Global Skill Center, highlighting the State's efforts towards strengthening skill development and connecting its workforce with emerging opportunities.
Attended the Northeast Tourism & Hospitality Skill Conclave 2026 in Guwahati, alongside Hon’ble Minister Sh @BiswajitDaimar5. Led by @MSDESkillIndia, with support from @NSDCIndia and the @skillthsc, the Conclave focused on strengthening tourism-led skilling, industry partnerships and international mobility opportunities for the youth of the North-East. The occasion also witnessed the exchange of an MoU between MSDE and the Government of Assam for establishing a Skill India International Centre (SIIC), and the exchange of LoIs of PM-SETU clusters with Numaligarh Refinery Limited and Oil India Limited. These partnerships aim to strengthen industry-aligned skilling infrastructure, create opportunities, and equip the youth of the North-East with skills for emerging domestic and international markets!