Turkmenistan at the Center of International Dialogues on Demographic Resilience: Skopje Conference and New Initiatives

A regional ministerial conference titled "Leading Change: People-centered paths to demographic resilience" was held in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. A delegation from Turkmenistan, led by the Deputy Minister of Education Azat Atayew, participated in this important event. During the panel session dedicated to international and regional cooperation, the Turkmen delegation presented the country's systematic strategy for effectively utilizing the "window of demographic opportunities." The presentation emphasized that developing human capital is not only a social issue but also a strategic economic one. Modernizing the quality of education, scientifically forecasting future labor market needs, and training highly qualified personnel for various sectors of the economy were highlighted as priority areas of Turkmenistan's state policy. Particular attention was paid to the impact of demographic trends on youth employment and labor productivity. Turkmenistan's innovative approaches in the field of education sparked great interest among the participants: - Professional Planning: A systematic analysis of the skills of students studying both domestically and abroad is conducted and planned according to market demands. - New Professions: The "Atlas of Professions of the Future" was introduced, covering 11 sectors and 156 new specialties, developed based on international experience. - Strategic Plans: For 2026–2027, the creation of a "National System for Strategic Planning of Human Capital" is envisioned in collaboration with the UNDP. This system will be an analytical model operating through a digital platform based on artificial intelligence technologies. Turkmenistan is strengthening cooperation with international organizations, particularly the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). These relations are aimed at improving demographic foresight and maximizing the benefits of the "demographic dividend." Furthermore, preparations were mentioned for an international conference on demographic issues to be held this October in the "Awaza" National Tourist Zone, initiated by the National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.