Together We Stand

[ 138 ] trainings that focused on the areas of front office, catering, house- keeping and food production as well as preparing administrators as educators. The trainings also provided a useful occasion to access decent work opportunities in the tourism sector. Meanwhile, they have positive effects on job creation in the target member states. In this regard, the vocational programmes have contributed to the achievement of relevant SDGs through generating a well-trained and skilful workforce in the Turkic Council member states. Sustainable development constitutes another important agenda itemof the Turkic Council for empowerment of its member states and regional partners in economic and bureaucratic terms. The international conference on ‘Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for Development’, co-hosted by the Turkic Council, the UNDP Regional Office for Europe and CIS in 2015 in Istanbul, was a concrete step to realize this objective. The conference, which was attended by 150 private and public sector representatives from 15 countries, enabled knowledge and expertise sharing in order to promote e-transformation and open data. The conference focused on e-governance, open data, the role of ICT in transforming rural development and agricul- ture, and the private sector’s capacity in putting ICT to work for development. It was instrumental in discussing how countries in the region should advance their development priorities using modern technology. Thus, the role of ICT in linking businesses, improving delivery of public services such as health and educa- tion, facilitating development of smart buildings, smart cities and smart agricultural activities which support green and sustainable growth, was discussed from different angles. Through a memo- randum of understanding scheduled to be signed in 2016, the Turkic Council and UNDP will continue their cooperation for regional development in various areas to face new challenges and better meet people’s needs. The Turkic Council believes that investment in youth presents a solid measure for prevention of humanitarian and development crises in the long run. Thus, the Sixth Summit of Turkic Council Heads of States, to be hosted by Kyrgyzstan in 2016, will concentrate on cooperation in youth and sports issues. In this regard, the first Turkic Council International Youth Camp was hosted by Turkey in 2015 in Trabzon and Samsun. Around 200 youngsters from the Turkic States attended the camp activities. The camp contributed to the personal development of future leaders and promoted sociali- zation among youth sharing common history and culture. It also strengthened the ties of friendship and fraternity among the youngsters, and added to the vision to create a brighter future with youth having an increased awareness of the social and humanitarian needs of their societies. We believe that a generation raised with such awareness will actively engage in transforming our aspirations for an enhanced humanitarian system into realities. Accordingly, the council plans to organ- ize international youth camps under the title of ‘a better world for the next generation and a more secure society’ which will be open to youngsters from other countries in the period ahead. In today’s circumstances, an international actor does not have the luxury of waiting until a humanitarian crisis knocks on its doors. We need to remain prepared with tailor-made policies in political, economic and cultural areas to avoid humanitarian and development challenges. Implementing such an approach, the Turkic Council spares no effort to bolster cooperation in these areas through efforts such as result-oriented projects and vocational trainings to the benefit of the Turkic States and its neighbourhood. Accordingly, in every action it takes, it concentrates on how to provide additional assets to regional and global cooperation. Its bid to build mutually beneficial relations with regional and international organizations is a clear testimony to this fact. As a responsible regional actor, it expresses readiness to take all necessary actions because the Turkic Council truly believes that if ‘together we stand, we will always gain”. Only by working together can we address today’s growing humanitarian needs. The role of ICT in facilitating development of smart agricultural activities was discussed at the conference on ICT for Development Image: Turkic Council Vocational training for tourism employees transfers knowledge and experience and provides access to work opportunities in the tourism sector Image: Turkic Council T ogether W e S tand