Jammu, Jun 10 (IANS): The setting up of centres of excellence in education and training will act as a major pull for the educated professionals to work in the Union Territory, Divisional commissioner Jammu Sanjeev Verma told IANS.

In April the Jammu and Kashmir government signed a Memorandum Of Understanding with Tata Technologies to set up two Centres of Invention, Innovation Incubation and Training (CIIITs) in Jammu and Kashmir at the government polytechnic colleges in Jammu and Baramulla.

"A lot of professionals from J&K are working outside; it is their compulsion, but certainly, opening of centres of excellence will act as a major pull for people to work here," Verma said.

"Many white collar professionals have returned to J&K after the Covid- 19 pandemic erupted and they are going to stay here for one or two years. The opening of such centres will give them hope."

Verma said the move is timely and has come at a time when the job market is shrinking.

"If industry comes, it will benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

The project will be a joint venture of Jammu and Kashmir and Tata Technologies and is aimed at bringing qualitative improvements in the field of technical education and help create a learning environment for training manpower to cater to the industry requirements in J&K and outside.