The government has signed a Tk117 crore ($10 million) financial assistance deal with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to modernise the Bangladesh-Korea Technical Training Centre, Chattogram.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Md Ruhul Amin and KOICA Country Director Taeyoung Kim signed the agreement on behalf of the respective parties at the conference room in the ministry in the capital on Wednesday.

State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury, senior ministry officials, representatives of the KOICA and others were present on the occasion.

Addressing the signing ceremony, the state minister said that by implementing this project, KOICA will provide financial support to the Bangladesh-Korea Technical Training Centre in Chattogram to modernise and build skilled manpower based on demand.

“I hope through proper implementation of this project at the right time, our technical training centres will become more up-to-date. Besides, the skilled manpower trained in these centres will create guaranteed employment opportunities in other countries, including Korea,” he said.

Earlier on Sunday, a delegation of KOICA led by its country director offered Bangladesh financial assistance of over Tk117 crore to develop skills among outbound workers while meeting the state minister for expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment.