National Forum in Bishkek Explores Skills Validation for Labor Market Growth
Bishkek hosted the National Forum “Validation of Professional Skills – A Step Toward Labor Market Development.”
The event was opened by Edil Baisalov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, who emphasized that building a skills validation system is a cornerstone for modernizing the labor market and improving workforce quality.
The forum gathered representatives of key ministries, business associations, educational institutions, trade unions, and international organizations.
Its goal was to establish a shared understanding of the role of skills validation in human capital development and labor market modernization.
International partners delivered welcome remarks, highlighting the importance of creating a transparent and accessible qualification recognition system. During the plenary session, experts presented international experience, national practices, and successful certification models.
Participants discussed the need for interagency coordination, integration of skills validation procedures into education, employment, and social support systems, and greater employer involvement.
Three panel discussions followed: reducing informal employment and fostering economic growth; adapting international best practices; and using validation to support vulnerable groups—migrants, people with disabilities, and the unemployed. Based on these discussions, participants presented recommendations and agreed on key directions for future collaboration.
The forum concluded with the signing of a memorandum of intent, a press briefing, and informal networking.
