$2m Project to Upgrade BKTTC

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Bangladesh’s Economic Relations Division (ERD) have signed a Record of Discussion for a US$2 million project to improve the safety and sustainability of training infrastructure at the Bangladesh-Korea Technical Training Centre (BKTTC) in Chattogram. The project will replace the centre’s ageing academic building with a structurally reliable facility.

The RoD was signed by KOICA and ERD on Thursday, September 17.

Titled “Ex-Post Management Project for Enhancing the Vocational Training Programme of BKTTC, Chittagong,” the project will be implemented from 2026 to 2028 in cooperation with the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) under the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

The project aims to ensure the continued and safe operation of BKTTC by replacing its existing ageing academic building with a new structure designed to meet safety and sustainability requirements.

A new two-storey academic building will be constructed under the project. Its foundation will be designed to support a future expansion of up to six storeys.

KOICA will provide support for architectural and engineering design, construction management and supervision. It will also provide technical consultations for the safe demolition of the existing building.

The initiative builds on longstanding Korea-Bangladesh cooperation in technical and vocational education and training. From 2011 to 2013, KOICA supported the “Enhancing the Vocational Training Programme of TTC, Chittagong” project with approximately US$4.8 million.

The new project is intended to strengthen the sustainability of that earlier cooperation while addressing structural safety concerns at the existing training facility.

KOICA Bangladesh Country Director Jihoon Kim said the Record of Discussion reflected the Republic of Korea’s continued commitment to sustainable development cooperation with Bangladesh. He said KOICA hoped the project would provide a safer and more sustainable training environment for future generations of Bangladeshi technical professionals.

The Wing Chief of the Economic Relations Division under the Ministry of Finance said the improvement of BKTTC would contribute to strengthening the quality of technical and vocational education in Bangladesh. The official also appreciated the continued cooperation of the Korean government and KOICA in developing the country’s skilled workforce.

The new infrastructure is expected to provide a safer and more sustainable learning environment for trainees and instructors while strengthening BKTTC’s capacity to deliver quality technical and vocational education.

Improved training infrastructure is also expected to contribute to the development of skilled technical manpower and support Bangladesh’s sustainable economic development.

Established in 1991, KOICA is Korea’s development cooperation agency. It supports the economic and social development of developing countries through bilateral country projects, development consulting, global programmes, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and public-private partnerships, among other initiatives.
//DBTech/SBPSME/MIST//