On the margins of the OECD Skills Summit 2026 held in İstanbul, H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK convened a bilateral meeting with H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Saud bin Abdulaziz AL-MOQBEL, Director General of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS), to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation in the fields of education, training, and human capital development.

The discussions focused on strengthening collaboration in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), promoting lifelong learning systems, and advancing joint efforts to equip the workforce with future-ready skills. Both sides underlined the importance of aligning education and training frameworks with evolving labour market demands, particularly in the context of rapid technological transformation and global economic shifts.

H.E. Dr. AL-MOQBEL highlighted the strategic role of the Arab Bureau’s network of specialized centres and academic institutions in fostering regional knowledge exchange and capacity-building initiatives. He noted that these platforms could serve as practical and scalable mechanisms for implementing joint programmes, facilitating expertise-sharing, and supporting skills development across member states. He further expressed the Bureau’s readiness to deepen institutional cooperation and develop targeted initiatives that address emerging skills gaps in priority sectors.

In response, H.E. SELÇUK emphasized the value of building strong, results-oriented partnerships that leverage comparative advantages and institutional strengths. She underlined the importance of experience-sharing and joint programme development in areas such as digital skills, green economy competencies, and inclusive workforce participation. H.E. SELÇUK also reaffirmed her commitment to advancing collaborative frameworks that contribute to sustainable human capital development and enhance the resilience and adaptability of labour markets.

The meeting concluded with both parties expressing their mutual interest in formalizing cooperation through concrete initiatives and sustained engagement, paving the way for impactful partnerships that support skills development and socio-economic progress across the region.