Mohali (Punjab), Dec 6 (IANS): The Punjab government on Friday tied up Canada and Britain to set up skill centres in the state under joint ventures as part of a project set to be launched next year.

Also, the state signed a tri-party memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a centre of excellence in microelectronics -- application-specific integrated circuit design -- to be established on the premises of Software Technology Parks of India here.

Punjab Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said that international players were joining hands to provide training to youth as per the needs of the global industry.

He said in this venture, foreign players would be the training facilitators while the state would provide infrastructure.

There is a big shortage of skilled manpower across the globe and Punjab has the potential to meet this shortage by providing quality, demand-driven and skilled manpower to the global industry as per their needs, added Channi.