‘We must prioritise skilling in new technologies’: Dr. Hanif Qureshi

Dr. Hanif Qureshi, IPS, Joint Secretary (Automobiles) at MHI said that we must prioritise skilling in new technologies. Speaking as a Chief Guest at the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) event “Skilling the Future Together,” he said that the automobile industry requires a significant number of skilled individuals. There is still much work to be done. 

Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC), India's sole sector skill council for the automobile industry, organised a skill-oriented annual event ‘Partners Forum – 2023’. Over 250 industry partners attended the forum across the country and discussed about the upcoming challenges and its solutions.

This year's forum revolved around the theme "Skilling the Future Together", which aims to look at the skilling ecosystem collaboration among individuals, businesses, governments, and the skilling ecosystem to develop and enhance the skills required to bolster the skilling ecosystem to develop and enhance skills required in the future.

Three different sessions on Integrating Skill with Education: Opportunities & Challenges, Enhancing Productivity and Quality through Skilling and Skilling through CSR Initiative were organised in the events and renowned industry leaders emphasises the importance of upskilling current employees to meet the demands of emerging technologies and processes, as well as attracting and training new talent to enter the industry.

Vinod Agarwal, MD and CEO of VECV and President of ASDC, highlighted the annual update on ASDC and expressed his views on the changing landscape of the automotive industry and the future of work. He stated that during the past financial year, ASDC successfully completed more than one lakh apprenticeships. This achievement reflects the dedication and commitment of ASDC and its partners in delivering high-quality skill development programs. ASDC has also developed training programs for robotics and automation, smart manufacturing, industry 4.0 technology, electric vehicles and alternative fuel technology, automotive sustainability, and safety.

Additionally, Agarwal mentioned that ASDC has actively collaborated with various international forums, sharing best practices and learning from global counterparts. This knowledge exchange has not only enriched ASDC's training programs but has also positioned the Indian automotive industry as a hub of skilled professionals on the global map.

Furthermore, Dr. Qureshi highlighted the crucial role played by the Government of India in facilitating the industry's transition to new technologies through schemes such as PLI ACC, PLI Auto, and FAME II. He urged the industry to take advantage of the MHI schemes and expressed confidence that the Indian automotive industry would establish itself in the global market.

He added, "Electric vehicles (EVs) present a remarkable opportunity for India to compete globally. Let us ensure that the Indian EV story becomes the global EV story." Dr. Qureshi emphasized the potential for the electric vehicle sector in India to become a leader and encouraged the industry to focus on lighter batteries and reducing reliance on imported rare earth magnets.

The ASDC's Partners Forum - 2023 brought together key stakeholders, industry experts, and policymakers to deliberate on crucial aspects of skilling and shaping the future workforce in the automotive sector.