A National Forum titled “Validation of Professional Skills – A Step Towards Labor Market Development” was held in Bishkek. The forum was opened by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Edil Baysalov, who emphasized that the development of a skills validation system is a key foundation for modernizing the labor market and improving workforce quality.
The event was attended by the First Deputy Mayor of Bishkek, Mirlanbek Baygonchokov, representatives of key ministries, business associations, educational institutions, trade unions, and international organizations.
The forum aimed to create a shared understanding of the role of professional skills validation in human capital development and labor market modernization.
Representatives of international partners delivered welcoming speeches, highlighting the importance of establishing a transparent and accessible system for qualification verification. During the plenary session, experts presented international experience, national practices, and successful certification models.
Participants discussed the need for coordination between government agencies, integration of skills validation procedures into education, employment, and social support systems, as well as increasing employer engagement.
Three panel discussions were also held:
- Reducing informal employment and developing the economy;
- Applying international best practices;
- The role of validation in supporting vulnerable groups — migrants, people with disabilities, and the unemployed.
Based on the discussions, participants presented recommendations and agreed on key directions for further joint work.
The forum concluded with the signing of a memorandum of intent, a press session, and informal networking.
