CIM concludes Skill Festival 2083, connects over 1,000 students with industry

BIRATNAGAR: Skill Festival 2083 concluded in Biratnagar, Morang, on Sunday, bringing together students and industry to give young people hands-on exposure to careers and technical skills.

Chamber of Industries Morang (CIM) organised the event with financial support from the Swiss government, technical backing from ENSSURE/Helvetas Nepal and coordination with the Koshi Province Ministry of Social Development. The festival attracted more than 1,000 students from 25 schools and technical institutions across Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari. It ran under the slogan 'Industry for skills, future for career.'

In a statement, CIM said the event functioned as a career journey, allowing participants to explore interests, assess abilities and learn about career paths and links to industry through a series of learning zones. The programme featured inspiring sessions, career testing and counselling, a career tree activity, a 'My Country My Product' showcase, direct training experiences, skill competitions and innovation and entrepreneurship exhibitions.

CIM President Nand Kishor Rathi said the chamber has been running apprenticeship programmes and skill festivals to narrow the gap between the skilled manpower industries need and the output of the education system. “The festival successfully connected students with the industrial environment, career prospects and skill development opportunities,” he said, and urged the private sector to take a leading role in developing skilled workers.

Deepak Kumar Agrawal, CIM executive member and coordinator of the human resource development committee, said the festival’s 10 learning and experiential zones offered career testing, counselling, industry observation, live skill demonstrations, innovation showcases and entrepreneurship activities. He added that the event helped cultivate a positive mindset among students towards skill-based education and careers.

Koshi Province Minister for Social Development Ram Prasad Mahato, the chief guest at the closing ceremony, said building a skilled workforce is an urgent need and called for stronger collaboration between industry and education. He encouraged young people to pursue not only employment but also entrepreneurship, saying such programmes help promote new enterprises in the province.

In the skill contests, Mohammad Jesan Ansari of Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic, Hattimuda, won first place in the automobile sector; Akriti Poudel of Nara Bahadur Karmacharya Polytechnic Institute, Itahari, took first place in hotel management; and Manish Ghimire of Kankai Polytechnic Institute claimed first place in information technology. CIM President Rathi and Minister Mahato presented cash prizes and certificates to the winners.

Likewise, business leaders welcomed the initiative. Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Koshi Province President Rajendra Raut said cooperation among stakeholders is essential to develop entrepreneurship and skilled manpower at the local level and to expand employment opportunities. Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) Koshi Province President Pawan Sharda said the festival gave students practical experience of the path from skills to careers by linking them with industry, employment and innovation. Senior Vice President of Morang Merchants’ Association (MMA) Anil Kumar Shah said the event helped students form clearer visions for their futures and identify local opportunities.

The programme drew participation from technical institutions across Koshi Province, private sector organisations and associations, development partners, teachers, students and parents from various schools and colleges. CIM said they plan to continue similar initiatives to strengthen ties between education and industry.

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