It is a great honour to extend a warm welcome to all of you at the OECD Skills Summit 2026, which Türkiye is privileged to host in Istanbul on April 27-28, 2026, with the distinguished participation of His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye.
This Summit represents an important milestone in the global dialogue on skills. As a flagship initiative of the OECD, it builds upon the solid foundations established by previous summits. The Republic of Türkiye is proud to carry this legacy forward and to contribute to addressing the most pressing challenges of our time.
In a world characterised by profound and rapid transformation – from demographic shifts, including ageing populations, to the far-reaching impacts of digitalisation and the green transition – the indispensable value of knowledge and skills is more apparent than ever. Recent years have offered powerful lessons on resilience, adaptability and the fundamental importance of lifelong learning in times of uncertainty. The theme of the Summit, “Unlocking Talent Across Generations” directly addresses this reality, as we seek to foster a culture of lifelong learning that enables all individuals to realise their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society. We will explore how to cultivate a culture of lifelong learning that empowers every individual to thrive in the labour market.
Under the leadership of His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye pursues the “Century of Türkiye” vision as we enter into the second century of modern Turkish Republic. This vision is fully compatible with the approach that high-quality education and effective skills policies constitute the foundation of human development and sustainable prosperity. We firmly believe that the Summit will provide a valuable opportunity not only to share our national experiences, but also to foster new collaborations and to design concrete strategies for the future. Together, we shall explore how the skills of every individual can be harnessed to build a more resilient, innovative, and equitable global community.
It is a distinct honour for us to welcome you to Istanbul – a city where continents, cultures, and civilizations converge. We believe that your participation will enrich the discussions through sharing national practices and global approaches and look forward to meeting you all.
Sincerely,
Prof. Dr. Vedat Işıkhan
Minister of Labour and Social Security
Republic of Türkiye
