Istanbul, 17 February 2025 – The Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Ambassador Kairat Sarybay addressed the 3rd Istanbul Human Resources Forum, organized by the Presidency’s Human Resources Office of the Republic of Türkiye. The forum served as a strategic platform for high-level discussions on human capital development, institutional capacity-building and workforce modernization. This year’s event brought together senior representatives from international organizations, public and private sector HR leaders, academia and NGOs, reinforcing its role as a hub for meaningful dialogue on the future of human capital.
In his remarks, the Secretary General emphasized CICA’s role as a leading multilateral platform committed to promoting security, confidence building and cooperation among its 28 Member States based on UN principles, international law and mutual trust. He emphasized a pivotal moment in CICA’s evolution — the Sixth CICA Summit in Astana in October 2022, where Member States initiated the gradual transformation of CICA into a full-fledged international organization, with a strong emphasis on institutional strengthening.
As part of this transformation, enhancing human resources policies in alignment with global standards remains a strategic priority, initiated under the Kazakh Chairmanship and now further being prioritized by Azerbaijan’s 2024-2026 Chairmanship. To support this, the Secretariat has undertaken comprehensive reforms, drawing on UN best practices, improving institutional efficiency and fostering a professional, diverse workforce committed to advancing CICA’s mission. These efforts are further strengthened through regular engagement with international organizations to exchange expertise and best practices.
Acknowledging Türkiye’s significant contributions to CICA, Ambassador Sarybay praised its leadership as CICA Chair from 2010 to 2014 and its ongoing dedication to the CICA’s growth and development.
During a panel on Talent-Based Development, Ambassador Sarybay emphasized the role of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and the CICA advisory bodies such as the Business Council, Youth Council and Partnership Network of Leading Universities of CICA Member States (PNLU) in shaping policies that support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at both regional and global levels. He highlighted their contribution to human capital investment through education, capacity building, and the empowerment of youth and women.
Ambassador Sarybay underscored Azerbaijan’s strong focus on youth and education during its Chairmanship, particularly through the newly established PNLU, which aims to exchange best practices and develop a unified approach to youth engagement and workforce preparation. Additionally, he noted Azerbaijan’s initiative to establish a Women’s Council, which will focus on enhancing women’s empowerment and leadership opportunities across the CICA region.
He also emphasized the promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the CICA Business Council, noting its pivotal role in human resource investment by fostering sustainable employment, entrepreneurship and workforce development.
Ambassador Sarybay commended Türkiye’s dedication to knowledge transfer and capacity building, acknowledging its contributions as the Coordinator of CBMs in the priority area of “New Challenges and Threats”. He highlighted Türkiye’s efforts in hosting training programs, including virtual seminars and in-person courses, for law enforcement officers from CICA Member States specializing in countering drug trafficking and organized crime.
In closing, he expressed gratitude to the organizers for bringing together international organizations to exchange experiences, share best practices and foster synergy in addressing global challenges.
The participation of the CICA Secretary General in the forum underscores CICA’s dedication to advancing human resource development as a pillar of institutional resilience and regional cooperation. Moving forward, CICA remains committed to fostering deeper collaboration among its Member States and international partners to drive sustainable growth, innovation and security across the region.
