Under the agreement, a special purpose vehicle will oversee the upgrades, with AM/NS India holding 51 per cent equity and the Centre and Andhra Pradesh government 24.5 per cent each.
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), a joint venture between global steelmakers ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel, has signed a shareholders’ agreement with the Government of India and the State Government of Andhra Pradesh to upgrade four government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the Visakhapatnam cluster.
Signed on October 12, the agreement is part of the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM‑SETU) scheme, and formalises the approved investment plan between AM/NS India, the Centre and the state. A special purpose vehicle will be formed to manage the upgrades, with AM/NS India holding 51 per cent equity and the Centre and state government 24.5 per cent each.
PM‑SETU, with a total outlay of ₹600 billion, aims to modernise 1,000 government ITIs through industry partnerships and strengthen five National Skill Training Institutes. The Visakhapatnam cluster’s Strategic Investment Plan was the first to receive National Steering Committee approval, with an investment of ₹2 billion earmarked for the four ITIs.
Nara Lokesh, Minister for IT, Electronics & Communication, HRD and Real‑Time Governance, said, “This partnership with AM/NS India will help students at four government ITIs gain practical skills that employers need. By improving training facilities and bringing industry expertise into technical education, we aim to strengthen their employability and help them participate in the state’s growth.”
AM/NS India will implement the project with New Age Makers’ Institute of Technology (NAMTECH), its academic and technical partner. Planned work includes modernising facilities, updating courses, introducing new trades and strengthening instructor training.
Ashutosh Telang, Director & Vice President of HR & Administration, AM/NS India, said, “Through this partnership, we will bring our manufacturing experience and NAMTECH’s technical education expertise to four Government ITIs in the Visakhapatnam cluster. Better facilities, hands‑on learning and stronger instructor training will help students build skills that employers need, preparing them for jobs in manufacturing and related industries while strengthening the pool of skilled local talent.”
The project covers Government ITI (Old), Kancharapalem; Government ITI (Girls), Industrial Estate, Visakhapatnam; Government ITI, Bobbili; and Government ITI, Narsipatnam. The Kancharapalem ITI will serve as the main training centre, supporting the other three institutes through shared facilities and resources.