press release Uttoron Launches Second Phase of its Journey
DHAKA, Dec. 12, 2019 - “Uttoron- skills for better life”, funded by Chevron and implemented by Swisscontact organized an event on 11th December 2019 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka to launch the second phase of its project. The event entitled “Continuing the Momentum: Launch of Uttoron phase-II” had Dr. Mollah Jalal Uddin, ndc, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment as the Chief Guest. Additionally, as special guests, Mr. Earl R. Miller, United States Ambassador for the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Mr. Neil Menzies, President, Chevron Bangladesh, Mr. Ismail Chowdhury, Director- Corporate Affairs, Chevron Bangladesh, Mr. Manish Pandey, Director - South Asia, Swisscontact and Mr. Anirban Bhowmik, Country Director, Swisscontact Bangladesh were in attendance.
Dr. Mollah Jalal Uddin while announcing the launch of Uttoron phase – II spoke of Uttoron’s success and achievements and said, “More projects like Uttoron, which ensures increased female participation, utilizes innovative mechanisms such as boot camps and a well-developed trainee selection process, putting high emphasis on post-training employment and engaging stakeholders in every step, is needed in our country’’.
"Uttoron - skills for better life" phase-I was a three-year skills development project, which commenced its journey in August 2016 with an aim to enhance employment opportunities for 1,400 community members in Sylhet, Moulavi Bazar and Habiganj districts. The project is funded by Chevron under the ‘workforce development’ component of its Bangladesh Partnership Initiative (BPI). Uttoron completed its phase-I journey in July 2019 and raised the awareness of around 53,000 community members on skills training while training 1,449 (21 percent female) youths in three sectors. 983 of these 1,449 graduate trainees are now employed in different industries.
Phase-II of the project will also be a three-year (2019 – 2022) initiative, which aims to enhance the skills and employability of community youths in Sylhet and Dhaka division, while generating sustainable delivery of skills training near the Bibiyana gas field area, and creating opportunities for advanced welding training for youths in Bangladesh. The project will enable 2,000 community youths to acquire skills on different industry-demanded occupations and place them in gainful employment. On receiving market-valued skills and rewarding jobs, the youths will have the opportunity to increase their income and improve living standards, for themselves and their families.
Dr. Mollah Jalal Uddin while announcing the launch of Uttoron phase – II spoke of Uttoron’s success and achievements and said, “More projects like Uttoron, which ensures increased female participation, utilizes innovative mechanisms such as boot camps and a well-developed trainee selection process, putting high emphasis on post-training employment and engaging stakeholders in every step, is needed in our country’’.
"Uttoron - skills for better life" phase-I was a three-year skills development project, which commenced its journey in August 2016 with an aim to enhance employment opportunities for 1,400 community members in Sylhet, Moulavi Bazar and Habiganj districts. The project is funded by Chevron under the ‘workforce development’ component of its Bangladesh Partnership Initiative (BPI). Uttoron completed its phase-I journey in July 2019 and raised the awareness of around 53,000 community members on skills training while training 1,449 (21 percent female) youths in three sectors. 983 of these 1,449 graduate trainees are now employed in different industries.
Phase-II of the project will also be a three-year (2019 – 2022) initiative, which aims to enhance the skills and employability of community youths in Sylhet and Dhaka division, while generating sustainable delivery of skills training near the Bibiyana gas field area, and creating opportunities for advanced welding training for youths in Bangladesh. The project will enable 2,000 community youths to acquire skills on different industry-demanded occupations and place them in gainful employment. On receiving market-valued skills and rewarding jobs, the youths will have the opportunity to increase their income and improve living standards, for themselves and their families.
Seated from left to right at the launch of Uttoron, Phase II, held at a local hotel on Dec. 11: Ismail Chowdhury, Corporate Affairs Director, Chevron Bangladesh; Earl R. Miller, United States Ambassador to Bangladesh; Dr. Mollah Jalal Uddin ndc, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment; Neil Menzies, President, Chevron Bangladesh; Manish Pandey, Director – South Asia, Swisscontact. Carrying on from the work of the recently-concluded Uttoron-I, this new phase of the project will enhance the employability of 2,000 community youths over the next three years. Uttoron has been implemented by Swisscontact and financed by the Finance Ministry (Government of Bangladesh) and Asian Development Bank.