MSDE Signs MoU with GATI Foundation to Strengthen Global Skill Mobility

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, 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.”

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.