South Korea fostering skilled IT workers, quality jobs in Uzbekistan

This year marks 30 years since Korea set up an office of its foreign aid agency in Uzbekistan for development assistance.

Upon this milestone, a team of reporters explored how Korea is supporting high-quality skill sets and jobs for Uzbekistan's burgeoning young population.

Our Oh Soo-young brings us part two of our series.

Makmudov Mansur was a disillusioned dental trainee-turned-taxi driver earning 100 dollars a month.

In his late 20s, he enrolled in a vocational program run by South Korea's foreign aid agency.

For the last 8 years, Mansur's been running a publishing and IT firm, earning 8-hundred to a thousand dollars a week.

"I came with no background in IT and worked as a taxi driver. What I learnt at the center enabled me to run a 40-person business. Based on 8 months of study and two months of internships, two of my classmates and I founded a company. With our new factory, I expect to hire 120 more workers and hope to continue creating quality jobs."

One of five vocational schools set up in Uzbekistan by Korea International Cooperation Agency, the Samarkand Vocational Training Center nurtures young professionals in mechanics, electrical engineering, IT, computer graphics, and more.

After completing a year in Samarkand, plus two years at a South Korean university, graduates go into business or land high-quality jobs, with their acquired skillsets and Korean language skills.

"I'm currently learning the basics of machinery. If I continue my studies in Korea, I hope to receive more advanced training there and eventually secure a good job."

Inspired by Korean online lecturers, this 30-year-old student aspires to become a mechanics professor.

"Many of us had never seen such machines before. But Koreans brought these over and showed us. We were blown away. With this training, we can earn more than in jobs like driving buses or taxis, construction, or teaching."

With a population of 35 million, six in ten Uzbeks are under 30 years old, meaning there's a huge demand for work.

Around half a million enter the job market each year.

KOICA's vocational centers have together produced 11 thousand graduates, with a 92 percent employment rate.

"When the Tashkent and Samarkand centers first opened, no other institution could provide even short-term vocational training. By showing what our center can do, we've set a shining example. So today, the Uzbek government now operates 65 vocational schools nationwide --on top of the five KOICA vocational centers."

Beyond technology and skill training, it's crucial for young firms to acquire the know-how and connections to scale their businesses.

Here in Tashkent,.. KOICA is backing the growth of young Uzbek IT specialists and companies, training professionals, and linking businesses to build a high-tech ecosystem.

Since 2021, KOICA provided funding, training, and hardware support for IT Park, a tech hub set up by the Uzbek government in 2019, to foster digital export businesses and attract global IT firms to Uzbekistan.

IT Park offers business-to-business matchmaking, education in areas like Artificial Intelligence and data analytics, as well as further networking opportunities for resident companies.

"We could learn about new trends and also network with Korean companies, so I'm recommending this program to others in the industry."

The capacity-building program has trained over 630 students to date.

Once the center of global commerce, as a major Silk Road hub, Uzbekistan is working with Korea to produce young technicians sporting new tricks of trade.

Oh Soo-young, Arirang News, Tashkent.