Thoothukudi Skill Conclave focuses on industry ready workforce for emerging industries in district - The HinduUpdated - September 30, 2026 08:14 pm IST - THOOTHUKUDIC. Palani, Director of Employment and Training, addressing the Skill Conclave in Thoothukudi on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: N. RAJESHThoothukudi district administration has organised “Skill Conclave 2026,” here on Wednesday, with the aim of fostering partnerships among the government, corporate and NGOs for impactful skill development in key sectors such as manufacturing and automobiles, shipping and marine, space technologies and renewable energy.Addressing the inaugural event Thoothukudi District Collector Vishu Mahajan said, “Thoothukudi is at a moment most districts wait a generation for. Over the coming years we are looking at planned investment across automotive and EV manufacturing, renewable energy, ship building, container manufacturing, textiles and India’s emerging space sector.”He added around six industries were arriving together in the same district in the same decade. However, he reiterated investment did not automatically translate into local employment. The industries coming up in Thoothukudi would require thousands of skilled workers fairly in specific roles and the conclave aimed to help meet this requirement, Mr. Mahajan added.Addressing the conclave through video conference S. Vijayakumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce, said Tamil Nadu had set an ambition to become a $1.5 trillion economy by 2036. He added that factories and highways can be built but without skilled people to operate them, investment becomes inert, infrastructure becomes underutilised and ambitions remain unrealised.He added that Thoothukudi district is no longer simply a port town or industrial backwater. It is becoming a convergence point for Tamil Nadu’s future, a place where industrial revolution, energy transition, maritime manufacturing and emerging space economy are coming together and creating opportunities.Kavitha Ramu, Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC), said that TNSDC has been implementing various experimental and project based learning programmes for the students across arts & science, engineering, diploma and ITI institutions.She added that these programmes focus on building industry readiness through mandatory technical skills. TNSDC was also taking special initiatives to skill unemployed youth in collaboration with leading industry partners, based on their actual manpower requirements.Ms. Ramu pointed out the existing gap, with industries constantly looking for skilled workers while a section of the youth looking for employment opportunities, noting that this skill gap has to be filled through various partnerships.Director of Employment and Training C. Palani, Thoothukudi Corporation Commissioner S. Priyanka and other officials were present.Published - September 30, 2026 08:13 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }