Kerala will be now generating a skilled workforce suited to meet the demands of the contemporary labour market, said Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Issac here on Wednesday. Inaugurating Skillex 2018, an orientation programme for the first batch of the Indian Institute of Infrastructure and Construction (IIIC) students, he said the government aims to expedite the rebuilding process through ensuring technical expertise. “Availability of skilled labour will attract more businesses and investors to Kerala. Steps will be taken to ensure jobs by coordinating with notable institutions,” he said. Labour Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan, who presided over the function, said the new generation of job-seekers will be trained in a way to exploit all local and global possibilities. “The IIIC will be functioning in collaboration with institutions and universities within the country and abroad. The skill development programmes offered by the IIIC and association with these institutions will help in ensuring Kerala’s presence in all the new sectors of labour,” he said. Around 200 students were admitted to the IIIC in the first phase. The institute aims to accommodate over 1,600 students in 40 skill development programmes within a year. “The government has been opening new training institutes and upgrading the standards and basic infrastructure of existing ones to ensure job possibilities,” he said. Chavara MLA, Vijayan Pillai, Chief Secretary Tom Jose, Additional Chief Secretary Asha Thomas and KASE managing director Alexander also spoke on the occasion. Currently the IIIC is offering three technician-level courses, one supervisory-level course and three managerial courses for those who have completed SSLC, Plus Two, ITI, diploma, degree and B.Tech courses. In the second phase, the institute will launch more graduateship programmes along with advanced courses in IT and data science.