Staff Reporter
Panaji
The Goa government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL), Taj Group, to establish a hospitality skill development centre at Fort Aguada. The centre will train 1,000 students annually, enhancing employment opportunities for youth in the state.
“This collaboration paves the way for India’s largest hospitality skilling centre in Goa, aimed at creating enhanced employment opportunities for the state’s youth,” said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant after the signing.
The signing ceremony was attended by Secretary (Education) Prasad Lolayekar, IAS, director of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship S. S. Gaonkar, and IHCL managing director and CEO Puneet Chhatwal.
Sawant said the initiative aligns with the government’s focus on skilling, reskilling, and upskilling young professionals to meet the evolving needs of the tourism and hospitality industry. “IHCL’s expertise will help empower Goa’s youth with specialised training, improving career prospects and contributing to the state’s economic growth,” he said. The project is expected to be completed within a year, with a target of training 10,000 students by 2030.
Chhatwal said the company aims to equip young professionals with the
necessary skills and trai-
ning to succeed in the hospitality sector.
