The National Apprenticeship and Industrial Training Authority, popularly known as NAITA entered into a partnership with Cargills (Ceylon) PLC to provide joint certification and training for youth in the fields of modern retail, food manufacturing and food services.
The partnership enables youth across every district of the island to gain professional training and hands-on industrial expertise along with a professional qualification accredited by NAITA and Cargills.
The Memorandum of Understanding in this regard was sealed at the NAITA headquarters recently under the auspices of its Chairman Shehan Seneviratna and Chief Executive Officer of Cargills Foods Company, Sidath Kodikara.
Seneviratna commended the efforts of Cargills to provide professional training and development opportunities for youth across the country through its extensive investment outside the Western Province.
“It is critical that youth are developed professionally and the role played by Cargills to create these opportunities and the affiliation it has with the International Grocer’s Alliance (IGA) and Yum! in providing globally recognized certification is a unique advantage that Sri Lanka must make use of,” he said.
Kodikara noted that development of youth is an integral aspect of its corporate ethos and the entire business model is integrated with the commitment to deliver the full potential of young people in the fast developing food industry.
The development of the food industry is phenomenal and the avenues open to young professionally trained people are tremendous. Our goal is to create value in our youth today so that they are not simply trained but emerge as true professionals who can take positions anywhere in the world. Our facilities and training affiliations with the IGA help do just that,” he said.
“The challenge today is to keep young people engaged long enough to develop them into career-oriented professionals with a view to impact our Country. Our business model that connects thousands of farmers and entrepreneurs to sustainable markets and creates affordable quality of life through nutritious safe food is driven by a philosophy of sustainable impact,” Kodikara said.
“We believe today’s youth would find this a compelling career opportunity that provides them a long term path for professional development whilst making a sustainable impact to the community,” he said.
Youth interested in gaining an industrial qualification in retail, food manufacturing or food servicing can register through NAITA to enter the programs.
All participants receive a comprehensive training experience along with a training allowance and continuous evaluation and certification accredited by the Albert A. Page Institute of Food Business, International Grocer’s Alliance (IGA) and Yum.