ISLAMABAD: The European Union (EU) has agreed on Friday to provide further funds to support projects in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector. It will provide this support to the ongoing reforms, focusing on equipping the youth with employable skills. After the successful implementation of two projects (TVET-I and II) in this sector during the past five years, the support from the EU for the implementation of this programme (TVET-III) will begin in January 2017 and will last for 5 years. TVET-III is aimed at scaling up the reform process based on the national TVET policy and the National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF), launched in March 2015. Apart from laying a strong foundation for a modernised TVET system, the programme will also support the provision of demand driven TVET training to 48,500 people of which 30 percent will be women. It will also focus on enhancing the engagement of the private sector in TVET planning and delivery and support the upgrade of four centers of competence for teacher training. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH will continue to implement the reform programme as the lead technical agency, in close collaboration with the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and other public and private sector organisations. A signing ceremony for the implementation agreement was organised by the EU delegation office. European Union Ambassador Jean-François Cautain, German Ambassador Ina Lepel, NAVTTC Executive Director Zulifqar Cheema along with a number of senior government officials, international technical agencies, leading employers and representatives of various donors attended the ceremony. Cautain and GIZ Pakistan Director Dr Julie Reviere signed the implementation agreement on behalf of their respective organisations. The funds constituted 26 million from the EU along with contributions from Netherlands, Germany and Norway. Cautain termed TVET as a ‘flagship sector’ for EU’s support to Pakistan. He said, “Our support to the TVET sector goes in hand with the advancement in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Pakistan would need skilled labour in various sectors in upcoming years to meet the demand with the expected economic progression.” TVET-I was aimed towards providing TVET services to marginalised communities, predominantly in rural areas at a cost of 20 million euros.