As part of public-private partnership to create adequate skilled manpower to cater to the needs of increasing industrial development, leading auto-maker General Motors India (GM) and Gujarat Government today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for training the students of Tarsali Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Vadodara.

As per the agreement between GM and state Industry, Labour and Employment departments, the auto major would develop and provide technical courses on automotive technology through Tarsali ITI.

The agreement was signed by Gujarat's Industry Commissioner, Sujith Gulati, Director (employment and training), C V Some and Karl Slym, president and MD of GM in the presence of Saurabh Patel, minister of state for industries, power and planning.

"GM will bring experts to prepare a curriculum. Even the existing faculty members at Tarsali ITI will also be trained, so that other such ITIs can also benefit from it," said Karl Slym while announcing the tie-up with Gujarat Government at Ahmedabad.

"The curriculum to be designed by GM would be taken to other ITIs and the auto major would also help the government in training the faculties at various ITIs," added Gauri Kumar, principal secretary, industries department of Gujarat government. General Motor is likely to pump in around Rs. 40 lakh for the purpose.

Meanwhile, GM plans to roll out three more models in months time. The company is currently working on two to three models in small and mid segment, which would be rolled out within a year.

As part of its strategy to maintain its sales and growth amid global slowdown, spiralling fuel prices and volatile interest rate scenario, the company has announced a scheme to popularise its small segement car 'Spark'. It has reduced the price of the car by around Rs. 50,000.

"GM has increased the production of capacity of its Halol plant to 85,000 units per annum. Its Pune plant is ready, commercial production of which will start from the first week of Septermber. The plant has the capacity of 1.15 lakh units a year," said Karl Slym.

Replying to a question, GM's director and vice-president (corporate affairs), P. Balendran said, "Not only of GM but the sales of all the auto companies have been impacted during the past two quarters. The company had set the sales target of 85,000 units for the year but it could achieve the mark of 33,000 units."