Today was held the conference ” Competitiveness of Metal Industry (with focus on skills)”a conference organized by the Kosovo Manufacturing Club in cooperation with EYE-Enhancing Youth Employment (Project of Swiss Cooperation Office).
The conference aimed to discuss the skills required in the metal industry, focusing on the welding field. Focusing on the challenges that are present in staff recruitment in the metal industry, and how easy it is to recruit students in vocational schools and to match existing skills with market needs. The conference also discussed the importance and export demand for the metal industry.
Participants in the conference were representatives of government and state institutions, representatives of business organizations, representatives from professional training organizations and various consultants
The conference was opened by the Executive Director of the Kosovo Manufacturing Club, Mr.Astrit Panxha, who assessed that this topic is of special importance as the metal industry is the most potential sector in economic development of Kosovo. The Manufacturing Club within its strategy has the four pillars of economic development, the pillars that include employment, economic diplomacy, energy and the environment. “Without skilful workers, there can be no sustainable development. It is worth mentioning that only with the construction of the power plant ‘Kosova e Re’, which is an investment of about 1.3 billion euro, it will need qualified workers and it is good that this investment it remains in Kosovo “said Mr. Panxha.
Timothy Sparkman, director of the EYE program, said that this four year project of the Swiss Cooperation Office aims to systematically develop a long-term partnership with the private sector, supporting employment opportunities and facilitating labor market transition. Mr. Timothy Sparkman stressed that the result of numerous conversations and reports is the skill gap, there is a great demand for employment and the unemployment rate is also high, especially in the welding field. “I challenge you to be more innovative in solving the economic development problem, find solutions that you have not used before.” was the message of Mr. Sparkman.
Minister of Economic Development, Mr. Valdrin Lluka expressed readiness to improve the current situation and announced that with the new strategy for economic development will be included the construction of new power plant Kosova e Re, mining sector and development of Trepca, where there will be also foreign investments. “Next year, with the start of power plant construction, skilled workers will be needed, especially in welding, which will be the most demanding resourcefulness in Kosovo.”
Mr.Lluka ensured that by signing a contract with the Global Counter for the Kosovo’s power plant, it is foreseen that on equal terms be given priority to local companies and the Global Counter will allocate a fund for the development of welding skills.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Mr.Bytyqi expressed optimism that there will be an increasing demand for jobs. He said that together with private companies will have agreements on development of curriculum in terms of practical training.”Along with the Manufacturing Club we have made arrangements for practical training to be conducted in private companies as well.”
Safet Ymeri from the training center at KEC said that this center conducts training on welding and the training lasts for at least three weeks. “With the existing modules we can now cover market demands, but there is lack of readiness from companies to bring their employees for certification.”
Faik Salihu from the high school of machinery ‘Shtjefën Gjeçovi’ said that there was a lot of help from the manufacturing companies in providing materials for work. He said that the school has a total of 1,000 students, of whom sixty are focused on welding.
Binak Morina from Hymeri Group, talked about the difficulties they had to open the new school, with directions in mechatronics, metalworking and welding. The school is newly open and tends to meet the needs of the market, but aims at its full accreditation in vocational training.
In addition to lack of skill, the issue of metal exports was also addressed. As the main export challenge was noted the lack of information from manufacturing companies on external market demands and non-certifying products that would facilitate export to the overseas market.