Endorsing the importance of creating employment and entrepreneurial opportunities through professional and technical education, delegates of South African countries look towards India for collaboration.

Delegates from nine countries in South Asia that include Zambia, Togo, Sudan, Botswana, and seven states from India participated at the day-long national conference –Creating employment and entrepreneurial opportunities through professional and technical education.  It was organised by APG Shimla University on Saturday.

During the conference, emphasis was laid on developing comprehensive strategies for young people and imparts value-based higher education to eradicating the problem of unemployment through education.

High Commissioner Republic of Guinea Tarcisus Eri expressed keenness to collaborate with India to address the issue of unemployment for upgrading the competitive skills and expertise of the citizens especially youth of his country in the long run.

"Our country would like to collaborate with fast developing countries such as India that are willing to share its developing experiences, expertise, technology, placements in educational institutions, competitive skills and innovative ways of doing business. World class institutions in India can train help the youth,” he said.

Kenya High Commissioner Osman Mohamed Ali underlined the need for generating awareness so that youth just do not run for white collar jobs, at a time when rise in population was leading to rise in unemployment.

“There is need to train the youth and to create awareness that all jobs are equal, to bring change in one’s life. Empowering youth with vocational training and to enable them to create jobs through entrepreneurship and skill development is the need of the hour,” he said.

High Commissioner Togo, Kanyl Galley Logosu Teko proposing recommendations underlined the need to promote entrepreneurial programmes, introduce youth empowerment schemes, provide equipment to graduates of different skill acquisition centres, cut the colonial form of education, and redesign school curriculum so as to gear this towards entrepreneurship, taking into account the specificities of the countries.