On October 1, a roundtable titled “Employer as a Key Partner of the Vocational Education and Employment System” was held in Osh. The event was organized by the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Education, the Government of Switzerland’s project “CHEBER: Skills Development in Kyrgyzstan” and the World Bank.

The discussion was joined by Myktybek Osmonaliev, Coordinator of the Regional Investment Councils for the southern regions and Taalaybek Azimov, Head of the Secretariat of the Regional Investment Council for Osh region.

He emphasized that the purpose of pilot projects launched by the Ministry and its partners is to bring young people closer to the labor market, equip them with in-demand skills, and prepare specialists who meet the needs of enterprises.

“The aim of the pilot projects launched by the Ministry and development partners is to provide young people with the professional knowledge they need, bring them closer to employment, and train specialists that meet the requirements of enterprises. At the regional level, the role of the Regional Investment Councils and their secretariats is very significant. They unite all stakeholders in the regions — government bodies, employers, and educational institutions — and create opportunities for developing practical solutions. As a coordinator, my task is to sustain this dialogue, collect and systematize proposals, and communicate them to the relevant authorities. Each proposal should contribute to the effective implementation of pilot projects and the creation of sustainable jobs for young people,” said Osmonaliev.

According to the National Statistics Committee, young people under the age of 35 make up about 2.4 million people, or 35% of the country’s population. While the unemployment rate stands at 3.7%, more than half of the unemployed are youth. In this context, internships are becoming an essential bridge between education and the first job.

Participants of the roundtable underlined that further progress is only possible through close cooperation between government, business, educational institutions, and local authorities. Such an approach will help prepare specialists in demanded professions, provide young people with decent employment opportunities, and create a solid foundation for the implementation of investment projects in the regions.