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OSCE holds seminar on professional skills and market economy
BISHKEK 30 March 2004
BISHKEK, 30 March 2004 - An international seminar focusing on the role of the OSCE in promoting and supporting the development of human capacity - in order to further economic reforms and enhance stability - was held in the Kyrgyz capital on 29 and 30 March.
The event, entitled "Professional skills needed for developing a market economy," brought together more than 180 participants, including representatives of OSCE participating States, partner international organizations, academics, the business community and civil society.
It was aimed at helping meet the challenges many states face in their transition to market economies. These include the need for well-trained professionals, in both public and private sectors, who can participate in and contribute to the economic transition and policy-making processes. This also covers the reform of the legal and structural frameworks and the strengthening of good governance at all levels.
"Institutions without skilled professionals are meaningless," Deputy Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Djoomart Otorbaev told the participants. He emphasised the need to constantly enhance human capital in order to achieve successful economic transformation and a functioning market economy.
Ambassador Ivan Naydenov, representing the Bulgarian OSCE Chairmanship, said that education is one of the main OSCE priorities for 2004."Education and training are major tools for setting up democratic institutions, securing democratic governance and human rights as well as achieving successful market economies," he added.
Another speaker, Professor Solomon Cohen from Erasmus University, Rotterdam, stressed that "many institutional failures in transition economies are due to shortage of institutional skills. Long term strategies and policy decisions have to be made quickly to achieve sustainable human resource development and meet governmental and market needs. International assistance and co-operation plays an important role and also the private sector could have a significant contribution in the field".
Marcin Swiecicki, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, said that under the previous system, education in economics was subordinated to the command economy. "Therefore new curricula, retraining of faculty, educational exchanges, market oriented training, are crucial to provide emerging democracies and market institutions with skilled professionals, economists, lawyers and public servants."
The seminar addressed specific gaps and needs related to training of staff for public administration and the academic field, as well as business-related training, education to promote sustainable development and employment related training for the young and newly-graduated.
The event will provide substantive input to the OSCE Economic Forum, which is due to be held in Prague from 31 May to 4 June 2004.
The event, entitled "Professional skills needed for developing a market economy," brought together more than 180 participants, including representatives of OSCE participating States, partner international organizations, academics, the business community and civil society.
It was aimed at helping meet the challenges many states face in their transition to market economies. These include the need for well-trained professionals, in both public and private sectors, who can participate in and contribute to the economic transition and policy-making processes. This also covers the reform of the legal and structural frameworks and the strengthening of good governance at all levels.
"Institutions without skilled professionals are meaningless," Deputy Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Djoomart Otorbaev told the participants. He emphasised the need to constantly enhance human capital in order to achieve successful economic transformation and a functioning market economy.
Ambassador Ivan Naydenov, representing the Bulgarian OSCE Chairmanship, said that education is one of the main OSCE priorities for 2004."Education and training are major tools for setting up democratic institutions, securing democratic governance and human rights as well as achieving successful market economies," he added.
Another speaker, Professor Solomon Cohen from Erasmus University, Rotterdam, stressed that "many institutional failures in transition economies are due to shortage of institutional skills. Long term strategies and policy decisions have to be made quickly to achieve sustainable human resource development and meet governmental and market needs. International assistance and co-operation plays an important role and also the private sector could have a significant contribution in the field".
Marcin Swiecicki, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, said that under the previous system, education in economics was subordinated to the command economy. "Therefore new curricula, retraining of faculty, educational exchanges, market oriented training, are crucial to provide emerging democracies and market institutions with skilled professionals, economists, lawyers and public servants."
The seminar addressed specific gaps and needs related to training of staff for public administration and the academic field, as well as business-related training, education to promote sustainable development and employment related training for the young and newly-graduated.
The event will provide substantive input to the OSCE Economic Forum, which is due to be held in Prague from 31 May to 4 June 2004.