The Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program (SICIP-PKSF), a government-implemented initiative supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), will train up some 12,000 youth transforming underprivileged and marginalized populations into skilled manpower.
Of the total participants, 30 percent of the seats are reserved for women, while the remaining 70 percent will prioritize youth from low-income and remote communities.
SICIP-PKSF has officially been launched with the aim of transforming underprivileged and marginalized populations into skilled manpower through demand-driven technical training in 12 different trades under the three-year project.
The project will fully cover accommodation and meal expenses for trainees. Upon completion of the training, participants will also receive assistance for wage or self-employment based on their acquired skills.
The official inauguration and MoU signing ceremony with partner training institutions was held on Monday at the PKSF Bhaban in Dhaka.
Speaking as Chief Guest, Finance Secretary and National Program Director of SICIP, Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Mozumder, praised PKSF’s role in skill development and announced that additional government support will follow the successful training of the 12,000 youth.
Highlighting the global demand for skilled labor, he urged PKSF and its partner organizations to contribute meaningfully to the government’s efforts in developing a competitive workforce.
Additional Secretary and Executive Program Director of SICIP, Mohammad Walid Hossain, said PKSF is a trusted and experienced organization, and expressed hope that it would efficiently implement all 12 courses nationwide. He also mentioned that international training opportunities are being arranged for instructors to enhance their teaching capabilities.
PKSF adopts five-year strategic plan for inclusive growth
PKSF Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan, who chaired the event, stated that Bangladesh's demographic dividend will not last forever.
“To capitalize on this window of opportunity, we must focus on creating a skilled workforce,” he said, noting that the SICIP-PKSF project would play a supportive role in the government’s broader skill development strategy.
In his welcome speech, PKSF Managing Director Md. Fazlul Kader pointed out that over two million young people enter the labor market every year.
“This is both a challenge and an opportunity,” he said, adding that skill development is a key strategic pillar of PKSF’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030.
He emphasized that SICIP-PKSF will facilitate wage and self-employment opportunities through training programs accredited by the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA).
PKSF Additional Managing Director Md. Jashim Uddin stated that beyond the planned 12,000 participants, a proposal has been submitted to train an additional 8,500 people under inclusive training programs.
These would prioritize persons with special needs, ethnic minorities, and members of the third gender. Furthermore, training for 2,000 orphans and vulnerable youth is also under consideration.
“PKSF’s support will go beyond training — we will assist these youths with access to finance, technology, and market linkages,” he added.
A brief presentation on the project was delivered by Senior General Manager Md. Ziauddin Iqbal. Previously, under the predecessor SEIP project, PKSF successfully trained 38,633 individuals in various skills.