Bangladesh's presence as an observer at the WorldSkills Competition held in Abu Dhabi on Sunday last has most likely been prompted by necessity. In fact, necessity is a mild world; it is a dire compulsion. With a six-year-low inflow of remittance from migrant workers at only $12.77 billion, the country is looking for any window of opportunity. One wonders why the country did not feel the need to participate in the biennial global competition that has been organised since 1950. The urgency was simply missing earlier because the volume of remittance had been going up before the last fiscal year. Smart people or nations do not wait for reviewing positions until the bad day comes but underdevelopment puts its uninspiring stamp on crucial areas - be it economy or governance - by not visualising the wintry days ahead and preparing for those. Now the urgency is there but the country will have to start from the scratch.
The competition pits young vocational technicians from around the world against each other in exhibiting their skills and expertise. A number of undergraduates from the country's polytechnic institutes have proved their innovative and technical range in the areas of agriculture in particular. Only a handful of them could manage some fund to manufacture farm machines or implements they developed on a commercial basis. A look at a number of locally developed transports like trawler or machines like mobile rice-husking units certainly gives an insight into the technical transformation and adaptability technical hands are capable of. Creativity and improvement of engines and machines to suit local conditions and other purposes are in ample supply. The only dearth is of encouragement for such enterprises and value addition in economic terms.
The Abu Dhabi competition and follow-up conferences will give the delegation a first-hand idea and experience of the type of competitions arranged. Universities from Bangladesh are beating their more illustrious rivals in debating, business solution and robotic competitions on the world stage. On the technical and skill development front, the journey is yet to begin. But once the country earns its membership - hopefully within a month after the Abu Dhabi competition and conference - participants from the country at this level are expected to do well too. A comprehensive programme for grooming contestants will have to be undertaken. With more and more technicians knowing about the matter, it will grow into a kind of movement, culture and habit. Involvement of more and more people will strengthen the base of skills of the people.
Quite rightly the focus has at last been on skill development of people. If people are skilled and perform better, their demand in the job market abroad will continue to rise. The country's manpower considered now a burden will turn into resources once the infrastructure and tradition of skill development can be fuelled. But this cannot be possible without vision for the future need. The authorities must envision first where it wants to clinch the day and therefore identify the areas for action on a priority basis.