Lahore, May 2, 2018: USAID-Punjab Youth Workforce Development (PYWD) project and the College of Tourism and Hotel Management (COTHM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support training and education in the hospitality sector for youth in southern Punjab. Present at the occasion were USAID/Pakistan Mission Director, Jerry Bisson and Provincial Director USAID Punjab, Lea Swanson. The MOU was signed during a roundtable on business partnerships which served as a platform for professionals in the technical and vocational training sector, including representatives from Fatima Memorial Hospital (FMH), Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC), and Lahore Restaurants Association (LRA), to share their expertise and knowledge on youth skills development in market-driven trades. At the roundtable, a tripartite agreement was also signed between FMH, PVTC and PYWD project with the objectives of upgrading PVTC’s clinical assistant course and of engaging in youth skills development for the provision of quality healthcare services. Speaking at the roundtable, USAID/Pakistan Mission Director, Jerry Bisson stated that, “Pakistan’s youth is the future of the country and I believe that investing in them will build their capacity to develop and grow as the leaders of tomorrow.” In his remarks, the CEO of COTHM, Ahmad Shafiq said, “COTHM’s engagement with the PYWD project will lead to the provision of hospitality education along with job placement opportunities for the project’s selected youth.”