No sweat, says Iceland

A REPRESENTATIVE of the Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA) has pledged to support the Karas Regional Council’s initiative to set up a vocational training centre.

During a briefing session last week, Dr Vilhja Ílmur Wiium told Regional Council officials that ICEIDA was “more than willing” to help set up a skills development centre in the region. He invited the council to send an outline proposal, asking funding for the envisaged project.”We will look favourably at your proposal,” he pledged.In July, Karas Governor Dawid Boois asked the agency to help with funding to set up a vocational training centre to make skills training accessible in the region.The Council’s Chief Regional Officer, Salmaan Jacobs, told the ICEIDA representative that the centre’s objective was to improve skills and to ensure future employment for school leavers.Jacobs said the envisaged centre would focus on skills compatible with the economic activities in the region, such as fisheries, agriculture and mining.According to the 2001 population census, only 3 851 of the region’s 70 000 inhabitants were classified as skilled workers in the fisheries, agriculture and mining sectors.He invited the council to send an outline proposal, asking funding for the envisaged project.”We will look favourably at your proposal,” he pledged.In July, Karas Governor Dawid Boois asked the agency to help with funding to set up a vocational training centre to make skills training accessible in the region.The Council’s Chief Regional Officer, Salmaan Jacobs, told the ICEIDA representative that the centre’s objective was to improve skills and to ensure future employment for school leavers.Jacobs said the envisaged centre would focus on skills compatible with the economic activities in the region, such as fisheries, agriculture and mining.According to the 2001 population census, only 3 851 of the region’s 70 000 inhabitants were classified as skilled workers in the fisheries, agriculture and mining sectors.