New Delhi : The
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India,
today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the GATI Foundation,
a project under the SFI Impact Foundation, to strengthen institutional
mechanisms that support overseas employment and global mobility of skilled
Indian workers.
The MoU aims to create a
strategic framework for collaboration between the two organisations to advance
India’s position as a global hub of skilled talent and to enable Indian youth
to access international employment opportunities in a structured and
sustainable manner.
Under the agreement, MSDE and the
GATI Foundation will work together to develop a comprehensive and data-driven
roadmap for overseas skilling and mobility. The collaboration will focus on
identifying high-demand international job roles, priority destination
countries, and sectoral opportunities for skilled Indian workers.
Speaking on the occasion, Smt.
Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship, Govt of India, said: “India’s demographic dividend can
translate into global economic strength only when our workforce is equipped
with skills that meet international standards. This partnership with the GATI
Foundation is an important step towards building a structured ecosystem for
global skill mobility. By strengthening institutional capacity, identifying
emerging opportunities across international labour markets, and preparing our
youth with the right skills, language capabilities and cultural readiness, we
are enabling Indian talent to participate confidently in the global workforce.”
Shri Arnab Bhattacharya, Chief
Executive Officer, GATI Foundation, said, “This MoU represents an important
step toward building a more unified national approach to global skills
mobility. By working closely with MSDE, the aim is to strengthen coordination
between the Centre and States and create a more cohesive framework that aligns
skilling efforts, messaging, and implementation across India’s workforce
ecosystem. Together, the hope is to accelerate India’s journey toward becoming
the global skills capital of the world by 2047.”
As part of the partnership, the
GATI Foundation will establish a Project Management Unit (PMU) at Kaushal
Bhawan, New Delhi, to provide technical and strategic support to the
Ministry in designing and implementing initiatives related to global skill
mobility. The PMU will support the Ministry in areas such as research,
monitoring frameworks, international partnerships, and strengthening the ecosystem
required to prepare a mobility-ready workforce in India.
The collaboration will also
support the development and operationalisation of Skill India International
Centres (SIICs), strengthen institutional partnerships with training
institutions such as ITIs and polytechnics, and facilitate global employer
engagement to improve international placement opportunities for skilled youth.
MSDE will facilitate
inter-ministerial coordination with key stakeholders including the Ministry of
External Affairs, Ministry of Labour and Employment, and international
organisations to align policies and initiatives related to overseas employment.
The Ministry will also support training in foreign languages, cultural
orientation, and documentation processes required for international placements.
The MoU will remain in force for
an initial period of three years and will operate on a collaborative
basis with no financial transaction between the two parties, with each
organisation bearing its own operational costs.
The partnership aligns with the
Government of India’s broader vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, where
skilled human capital plays a central role in driving economic growth,
innovation, and international cooperation.
Through initiatives such as
global skill mobility partnerships and the expansion of Skill India
International Centres, MSDE continues to strengthen pathways for Indian youth
to access quality employment opportunities both within the country and across
international markets.