South Korean automaker Kia, entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with its local partner, Meghna Automobiles Limited, to commence automobile technical training in Bangladesh.
This training initiative aims to address the shortage of skilled human resources in the Bangladeshi automobile sector, according to officials from Meghna Automobiles.
Khawza Masudur Rahman, the deputy general manager of Meghna Automobiles, stated to the media that the two organizations will establish an automobile technical training institute in Bangladesh before the local Kia assembly plant commences commercial production in the early part of the next year.
In order to provide comprehensive training, Kia Corporation has contributed a unit of each of the car models to be assembled in Bangladesh, as well as a complete set of training equipment and its virtual reality technology for the training institute.
Meghna officials expressed that the planned institute has the objective of significantly enhancing automobile skills in Bangladesh and will collaborate closely with local engineering universities.
Meghna Automobiles already has a group of Kia-trained engineers who are assisting in training trainers in the region, and Kia's regional team is hopeful that the company will further contribute to local training.
According to Meghna Automobiles, Kia Corporation is also open to the possibility of conducting training sessions in Bangladesh if requested by Meghna Automobiles, which serves as the distributor of Kia cars in Bangladesh.
Several dignitaries participated in the signing ceremony, including the First Secretary of the Korean Embassy, Yang Min Seo, Meghna Automobiles Director Rashiqur Rahman Mahin, Kia Head of Ownership Business Group DH Hwang, Managing Director of state-owned car assembler Pragati Industries Limited, Abul Kalam Azad, former member of parliament Aktaruzzaman, Vice President of Kia's APAC region, Dato Samson Anand George, Coordinating Director Jay Park, and Kia Headquarters Senior Manager Alex Kim.
Meghna Automobiles plans to locally assemble four Kia models, with three intended for the public and one designated for government procurement through Pragati Industries.
