Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF), in collaboration with the ILO Country Office for Bangladesh and the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organized a “Policy Dialogue on Future Skills to Employment Initiative” on 24 July 2025 at the Conference Hall, World Trade Center, Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chattogram. The objective of the program was to understand the most critical technical, digital, and soft skills gaps among diploma students and to present and technically validate a revised approach for industry attachment to address such gaps for polytechnic students, with input from HR professionals, TMED, DTE, institutes, and others.

Mr. Wasfi Tamim, Private Sector Engagement Officer, ProGRESS Project, ILO, facilitated the session. He began by outlining the objectives and expected outcomes to engage attendees throughout the dialogue.

Mr. Pedro Jr. Bellen, Chief Technical Advisor, ProGRESS Project, ILO Country Office, shared the objectives and outcomes of the workshop, extended a warm welcome to attendees, and shared the private sector’s views on the Industry Attachment Model for diploma-level TVET graduates. A statement was also given by Dr. K. M. Kabirul Islam, the Hon’ble Secretary, Technical and Madrasah Education Division (TMED). HR managers from diverse industry sectors in the Chattogram region actively participated in the event. In addition, senior officials from TMED, DTE, BTEB, BITAC, and leading private organizations in Chattogram attended.

A total of 37 participants (Female – 01, Male – 36) from 8 industry sectors, including Agriculture, ICT, Real Estate, RMG, Steel, and Shipbuilding participated in the program.