Minister Kondapalli Srinivas Calls for Skill Development to Drive Future Economic Growth

As artificial intelligence (AI), automation and emerging technologies transform the global employment landscape, continuous learning and skill development will be crucial for preparing young people for future opportunities, industry leaders and experts said at the CII Partnership Summit on Friday.

A plenary session on ‘Skills for the Future Economy – Talent, AI, Design and Digital Learning’ was held on the second day of the summit, bringing together policymakers, industry representatives and international education experts to discuss the changing demands of the workforce.

Minister Kondapalli Srinivas said skills were among the most democratic forms of wealth, as they could neither be inherited nor taken away. Of the state's 25 lakh MSMEs, around 11 lakh are women-led enterprises. With CII's support, the government is setting up 50 digital transformation centres to develop one lakh digitally empowered MSMEs.

He announced plans to introduce the 'Swayam AP' brand to provide international market access to products manufactured by self-help group women. Under the Vasudha project, 44 nurses who received free German language training have secured jobs in Germany. Coastal women are also being trained in seaweed cultivation and millet-based food preparation to generate employment.

IT, Electronics and Communications Department Secretary Bhaskar Katamneni said AI could not completely replace human thinking and that foundational engineering disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, chemistry and physics, would continue to be relevant. He revealed that only 24 per cent of graduates were immediately industry-ready, while another 28 per cent required three to six months of additional training. He stressed the need to strengthen industry-academia partnerships, combine online education with practical training and explore emerging fields such as quantum technology.

CII-appointed Chairperson and Bharat Biotech Co-founder and Managing Director Dr Suchitra K. Ella said nearly 40 per cent of jobs worldwide would require different skills by 2030. She called for making India a global skills hub and said AI-powered training in regional languages could help rural youth overcome language barriers.

Dr Shaila Talluri, Founder and CEO of Pure Global, emphasised human judgement, empathy and decision-making, urging students to gain practical experience through internships and design thinking.

Lloyds Banking Group Managing Director and CEO Shirisha Voruganti said India's global capability centres (GCCs) were providing employment to around 20 lakh people, highlighting the importance of industry-education partnerships.

Professor Simon Biggs, Vice-Chancellor and President of James Cook University, Australia, said AI could assess individual experience and skills to create personalised learning programmes.

The speakers stressed that adaptability, practical knowledge and continuous upskilling would determine India's ability to compete in the future global economy.