The CII – Rahul Bajaj Centre of Excellence on Skills launched at CII Annual Business Summit to impact 10 million youth over 5 years

“Guided by the timeless principles of Shri Jamnalal Bajaj, Mahatma Gandhi's ‘fifth son’ and his commitment towards uplifting the underserved communities, the CII Rahul Bajaj Centre of Excellence on skills will work towards equipping India’s youth with the knowledge, abilities, and mindsets necessary to thrive in this dynamic environment” said Mr Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director, Bajaj Finserv, while launching the CII - Rahul Bajaj Centre of Excellence on Skills at the CII Annual Business Session 2024 at New Delhi today.

Mr Sanjiv Bajaj said that the commitment of nation-building was continued by Padma Bhushan Shri Rahul Bajaj, who played a proactive role in social development through philanthropic initiatives and community engagement, and he is proud that the Centre of Excellence will carry his name and legacy forward.

He also said that the CoE will leverage global strategic partnerships and knowledge exchange initiatives to cultivate a conducive ecosystem wherein youth can thrive and realize their full potential. With technology rapidly transforming Industry, Mr Bajaj highlighted that the Centre of Excellence will have a Phygital mode and operate under a Hub and Spoke model, particularly in Rural India, where the need for skills is critical.

Mr R Dinesh, President, CII underscored that the launch of the Centre is a significant milestone in CII’s collective journey towards empowering the youth of our nation, driving socio-economic growth through skill development, creating livelihoods and ensuring a tremendous social impact. India's vast pool of talent, with its creativity, resilience, and diverse skillsets is a powerful engine for progress and the CII Rahul Bajaj Centre of Excellence on Skills is a testament to CII’s commitment to unleashing the true potential of India’s young minds, he added.

Highlighting that the symbiotic relationship between skills and livelihoods, Mr Dinesh said that Livelihood has been a key focus area throughout his tenure and that the Skills CoE will not only empower our youth but also act as a bridge connecting talent with opportunity, a catalyst for igniting the potential of our youth.

Speaking at the session, Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII said that the Bajaj family has been a cornerstone in India's development, with a legacy spanning generation, and the Centre of Excellence on Skills will have the privilege of carrying forward the name of Mr Rahul and his vision of the role which industry can play in nation building.

Stating that this is the 12th Centre of Excellence for CII, Mr Banerjee added that CII Rahul Bajaj Centre of Excellence on Skills will work towards driving workforce productivity and Industry competitiveness by building a Future Ready talent pool which will impact 10 million youth in the next 5 years. The Centre of Excellence on Skills will include High-tech AI driven 8 sectoral skill labs in high growth sectors like Manufacturing, Healthcare, Financial Services, Hospitality, IT/ITES & UI/UX, Logistics, Automotive (4-wheeler) and Drone Technology, he added.

Mr Banerjee highlighted that the CoE will enable scaling up CII’s on ground initiatives by setting up 100 CII Model Career Centres, 36 Multi-Skill Training Institutes and more than 1000 Industry Sectoral Training Centres.

17th May, 2024

New Delhi