WorldSkills championship kicks off in Tashkent 

The first open national championship on vocational skills - UzbekistanSkills started in Tashkent, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the press service of the Labor Ministry of Uzbekistan. 

Teams from Russia and Kazakhstan also participate in the championship.

At the opening ceremony, the President of the WorldSkills International (WSI) Association Jos de Goey, delivered a speech.

According to the ministry, during two-day competitions, young specialists aged 18 to 25 will compete in 10 professions, including cooking, plumbing, electrical installation and others. The event takes place on the territory of the center to assist the unemployed in the city of Tashkent.

“Holding the championship will be the next step in Uzbekistan’s joining the WSI Association,” the ministerial press service noted.

It is known that in the program of the WSI President’s visit, meetings are planned with the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, as well as the leadership of the Labor Ministry.

WorldSkills brings together young people, industry, government, education, and institutions, to promote the benefits of and need for skilled trade professionals. The aims of the competition include demonstrating the advantages of learning a vocational skill, and encouraging ‘parity of esteem’ between vocational and academic qualifications.