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Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita visited the Academy of Textile and Textile Product Community (AK-Tekstil) in Solo on Friday (June 18, 2021). (ANTARA/HO-Industry Ministry) - 

Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita has said his ministry is working on developing a competent workforce for the manufacturing sector given the high demand for skilled workers in the textile and textile product industry.

The availability of skilled workers is expected to boost national economic growth, he said in a statement issued here on Saturday.

“The high demand for skilled workers in the textile and textile product industry has encouraged the ministry to work on cooperation with the Solo city administration, Central Java's Indonesian Textile Association (API), and the Solo Technopark to establish the Academy of Textile and Textile Product Community (AK-Tekstil) Solo," he expounded.

AK-Tekstil Solo was established in 2015-end, and inaugurated by President Joko Widodo in January, 2016.

The academy offers three diploma degrees in yarn production techniques, clothes production techniques, and garment production techniques.

"AK-Tekstil is equipped with facilities such as laboratory, workshop, and teaching factory. It also has professional certification institution and competency test," Kartasasmita added.

The academy offers vocational education with a dual system concept that integrates learning on campus and in the industry, he said.

“Hence, there will be an effective synergy in education to produce competitive workforces which are ready to work in the industry," the minister elaborated.

At least 300 students have graduated from AK-Tekstil Solo every year and all of them have been employed by major textile plants across the country, such as PT Pan Brothers, PT Mataram Tunggal Garmen, and PT Sritex, Tbk, he added//ANT