Rs 250 cr project to help CAs brush up soft skills

Kochi, May 23 (UNI) Faced with increasing competition from MBAs, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is embarking on a Rs 250 crore initiative to impart soft skills and management training to its members.

Addressing a press conference here, ICAI President Sunil Talati said the project envisaged establishment of 17 centres of excellence over the next eight years in different parts of the country to impart training in ''soft skills'' to its members.

The first centre will be opened in Hyderabad in November this year. The centres will conduct courses ranging from three to six months, he added.

Stating that the ICAI was recognised the world over for its high standards of training, he said the Institute had embarked on a brand image build-up exercise that included a dress code and an official logo for its members. The ICAI logo will be released on July 1, observed as 'Chartered Accountants Day'.

Mr Talati said there was an increasing demand for CAs from the banking, finance and information technology industries. While no industry estimate existed on the gap between demand and supply, some media reports had spoken of a shortfall of about 50,000 CAs over the next five years. There was a demand for Indian CAs in other countries, including the US and Australia, he noted.

At present, about 9,000 CAs pass out of the institute every year, he said.

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