Kochi: Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will adopt 13 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the State as part of a nation-wide effort to create a human resource base with high skill levels. The 13 institutes have been identified and will be provided with expertise, skill and talents, said Pradipta K.Mohapatra, Chairman of CII south region, here on Friday.

He said the CII was working in close collaboration with the State Government. The programme was being carried out as part of the initiatives announced in the Union Budget for 2007-08, which had earmarked Rs.750 crore for upgrading 300 ITIs across the country. In another initiative, the confederation would train Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribal youth in Kerala in vocational skills during the current financial year. The confederation was undertaking a vision exercise for South India to showcase and replicate their best practices in the development of tier II and II cities, innovation, tourism, agro and agro-based industries and livelihood enhancement, Mr.Mohapatra said.