Centre earmarks Rs 15,000 cr for skill development in auto industr

New Delhi, Sept 3 (UNI) To address the need for skill development in the auto industry, a sum of Rs 15,000 crore has been allocated under the Public Private Partnership model, Minister for Heavy Industries Santosh Mohan Dev said today.

Addressing the 48th Annual Convention of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), Mr Dev said there is a lack of quality manpower in the Rs 75,000 crore auto component industry.

The industry has seen growth figures of 20-25 per cent over the last few years, with Indian companies making a mark on the international terrains as well.

Cost competency and quality of products, however, remain issues to be looked into as Indian companies compete at the international level.

The Minister informed that the Government on it part has established NATRIP in this direction. ''The Development Council is being reactivated and an Indo-German joint working group on automobile industry is being formulated to provide technology-based collaboration with Germany,'' he said.

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