Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Schneider Electric India Foundation on May 5, 2025, to enhance skill development and train youth for jobs in electronics, construction, and green energy. The agreement, formalized between the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) and the foundation, aims to equip over 9,000 young individuals with industry-relevant skills by 2027, according to a press release from the state’s Department of Human Resource Development.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Minister for Human Resource Development, Electronics, and IT Nara Lokesh in Amaravati. Lokesh emphasized that the partnership strengthens Andhra Pradesh’s commitment to closing the skill gap and preparing its youth for global and digital economies. “This collaboration modernizes our training infrastructure, paving the way for Andhra Pradesh to lead in workforce readiness,” he stated, as reported by PTI.
Under the agreement, 20 advanced training laboratories will be established across government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), polytechnic colleges, and National Academy of Construction (NAC) centers from April 2024 to March 2027. These labs, equipped with state-of-the-art electrical systems, solar energy solutions, and industrial automation technology, will be set up at nine ITIs in Araku, Rajahmundry (Girls), Narsipatnam, Nuziveedu, Ongole (Boys), A.S. Peta, Karvetinagaram (Girls), Kadapa (Minorities), and Srisailam; seven polytechnics in Srikakulam, Guntur, Anantapur, Chandragiri, Nandyal, Gannavaram, and Ongole; and four NAC centers in Amaravati, Kuppam, PM Lanka, and Chittoor. The initiative will train youth to meet industry and global standards, with job placement support for successful candidates.
Schneider Electric India Foundation will invest approximately ₹5 crore in training equipment, consumables, digital materials, and Training of Trainers (ToT) programs, while APSSDC will provide infrastructure and mobilize students. At Lokesh’s request, the foundation will also establish a ₹15-crore Centre of Excellence in Mangalagiri for industry-aligned certification programs, a Research and Innovation Centre in Anantapur for advanced applied research with academia and industry, and a Modern Power Optimisation Pilot Project in Alluri Sitharama Raju district to model efficient energy management and sustainable power solutions.
The partnership aligns with Andhra Pradesh’s vision to become a hub for green and digital talent, as highlighted by Lokesh in a post on X. The initiative is expected to create a future-ready workforce, supporting sectors critical to the state’s economic growth. This MoU follows other recent skill development agreements, including one with Suzlon Energy in January 2025 to train 12,000 youth in renewable energy.
BI Bureau
