The Uttar Pradesh government is planning a network of industrial and employment hubs inspired by Singapore's model, with the goal of training more than 10 lakh youths every year and connecting them to jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities. The initiative, named the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Industrial and Employment Zone (SVBPEZE) project, was approved by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday.
Singapore-inspired model
Officials said the project draws on the experience of Singapore's Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and its knowledge partner ITEES, which have helped develop technical and vocational education systems in several countries. The initiative aims to address the growing demand for skilled manpower as investments and industrial activity expand across the state.
The Chief Minister emphasized that training programs must align with the actual requirements of industry so that young people can move directly into employment instead of spending months searching for jobs after acquiring skills.
Integrated ecosystem
Unlike conventional skill development centres, the proposed zones will integrate training, placement services, industrial infrastructure and entrepreneurship support within a single ecosystem. The state plans to develop the project through a hub-and-spoke model comprising nine regional zones. Each zone will have a Centre of Excellence serving as the hub, supported by regional skill development centres catering to local industry requirements.
The hubs will offer advanced technical training, innovation and research support, trainer development, placement services, and career counselling. The centres will also house industrial plots, plug-and-play facilities, common facility centres, digital literacy programmes, foreign language training, and entrepreneurship support services.
Land identified
According to officials, around 369 acres of land have already been identified in the first phase across Mau, Kanpur Dehat, Kannauj, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, and Kanpur Nagar, while land acquisition and identification are underway in other districts.
Ambitious targets
The government has set ambitious targets for the project, including training and certifying more than 10 lakh youths annually, facilitating over 10 lakh job matches every year, and ensuring placement for 80% of trained candidates. It also aims to support more than two lakh new MSME ventures annually and bring nearly 50,000 gig workers into the formal economy.
