Australia's industry skills council SkillsDMC has said that it has entered into an agreement with India's National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) to provide training to 500 million people in several crucial industries by the year 2022.

SkillsDMC has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NSDC in order to offer support to establishment of the Indian Sector Skills Council for mining. An Australian official said that the agreement will ensure continued cooperation between the two sides.

The MoU was signed between SkillsDMC and NSDC in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Australian counterpart Julia Gillard. Gillard was recently on a three day visit to the country, during which she had met Dr. Singh and had held discussions of a range of matters like trade and investment, science and technology and education.

The statement said that India is aiming to provide training to 500 million people by 2022 in order to enhance productivity, employment opportunities and income in the country.

The statement said, "The Prime Ministers noted the vital role played by the expanding bilateral education and training relationship and its contribution to national goals for innovation, productivity and growth."