He said unskilled workers should be turned into skilled ones with training for the economic growth.

"The skilled manpower has a great demand in foreign countries. Skilled workers can contribute a lot to economic development by earning foreign currencies," he said this while a nine-member delegation of Bangladesh Association of Construction Industry (BACI) called on him.

The delegation included President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Mir Nasir Hossain, President of the BACI Mohammad Atiqur Rahman and former president of the BACI Mir Zahir Hossain, an official handout said.

They delegation members urged the minister to set up a Malaysian-type construction industry development board and a training academy in a joint venture between the government and the private sector entrepreneurs, and sought cooperation from the government in this regard.

The delegation told the minister that the Malaysian entrepreneurs have expressed their willingness in this connection.

Hafiz assured the delegation of extending all possible cooperation in setting up a training institute to help create skilled manpower for ensuring quality work in the construction sector.

About 10 lakh workers engaged in various fields of the construction sector, BACI sources said.