We are equipping youth with future skills: Lokesh
He stressed that the challenges of workforce transformation are not limited to any single region, and Andhra Pradesh aims to collaborate with Singapore for accelerated transformation.
Speaking at a round-table conference on 'Skills to Competencies, Accelerating Workforce Transformation' in Singapore, Lokesh said, 'In today's competitive world, with technology advancing at a rapid pace, traditional education is no longer sufficient for skill development. The Fourth Industrial Revolution demands not just technical skills but also competencies.'
He highlighted the need for individuals to possess the ability to adapt, innovate, and solve complex problems in dynamic environments. 'As the IT & electronics minister of Andhra Pradesh, we are striving to position our state as a hub for innovation and a leader in workforce transformation,' he said. 'We are not just preparing our youth for jobs; we are equipping them with the skills necessary for the future.'
He announced that Andhra Pradesh universities are introducing skill development courses and fundamentally changing curricula to align with international technological advancements. 'We are ready to work with Singaporean universities on research, innovation, student exchange, and entrepreneurship,' Lokesh added. He stressed the need for Andhra Pradesh and the organisations represented in Singapore to collaborate to create synergies that accelerate transformation.
R. Rajaram (registrar, National University of Singapore), Sia Siew Kien (associate vice president, Nanyang Technology University), Professor Pradeep Reddy (Singapore Management University), chairman Professor Rajesh Elara Mohan (Singapore University of Technology and Design), associate professor Yap Meen Sheng (Singapore University of Social Science), and Chen Hong Xiang (business development director, Skills Future SG Ventures) attended the conference.
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He has been stating that 2,000 TMC of Godavari water is flowing into the sea, and that if this water is utilised, it will benefit both the states. Telangana is opposing the Banakacherla project as it fears that it will impact water availability and violate inter-state water sharing agreements. At a meeting in Delhi on July 16 in the presence of the Jal Shakti Minister, the chief ministers of the two states agreed to constitute a committee to address all issues concerning Godavari and Krishna river waters. It was announced that the committee will comprise senior officials, engineers and experts from both the Telugu states. It was to be formed in 3-4 days and come out with a way forward on all issues in 30 days. The committee has not yet been constituted. While Telangana Chief Minister stated after the meeting that Banakacherla was not discussed in the meeting, Andhra Pradesh's Irrigation Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu claimed that it was the first item on the agenda and that the proposed committee will look into all issues, including Banakacherla.
