BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Kyrgyzstan’s
Ministry of Energy, with support from the World Bank’s Country
Office in Kyrgyzstan, held a seminar on developing institutional
mechanisms to promote gender equality in the energy and renewable
energy sectors.
According to the ministry’s press service, the seminar took
place in Bishkek on October 30 and brought together representatives
of energy companies, government agencies, scientific and
educational institutions, and the Kyrgyzstan Women in Energy
Association, as well as a delegation from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of
Energy.
The event brought together more than 60 participants.
Deputy Energy Minister Mirlan Parkhanov delivered opening
remarks on behalf of the Kyrgyz energy minister.
Discussions focused on increasing women’s participation in the
energy sector, strengthening their professional skills, expanding
career opportunities, and exploring new opportunities arising from
the development of renewable energy sources.
Elzada Sargashkaeva, Adviser to the Minister of Energy and Chair
of the Ministry’s Gender Council, outlined the council’s role in
promoting gender equality and expanding opportunities for women in
the energy sector.
Participants also reviewed the work of the Kyrgyzstan Women in
Energy Association, established in February 2022. It is the
country’s only officially registered specialized association of
women in the energy sector. The organization brings together women
specialists, builds professional connections, promotes women’s
leadership, and supports young professionals.
Representatives of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy shared their
experience in establishing and operating gender councils,
developing their activities at the regional level, and implementing
reforms. The exchange of experience provided an opportunity to
discuss further cooperation and the application of successful
practices in Kyrgyzstan’s energy sector.
The gender component of Electric Stations OJSC, which has
employed 10 female engineers with the support of the Asian
Development Bank, drew strong interest. Company Director General
Ulugbek Mamyraliev spoke about it, and Ulan Orozoev, consultant to
the Ministry of Energy on the “Gender Development” project,
presented it. Specific examples showed how women can be brought
into technical professions and given conditions for professional
fulfillment.
An important part of the seminar was the discussion of the role
of science and education in training specialists for the energy
sector of the future. N. K. Degembaeva, Head of the Renewable
Energy Sources Department at Kyrgyz State Technical University
named after I. Razzakov, Candidate of Technical Sciences and
Associate Professor, presented opportunities for women’s
professional development in renewable energy. She focused on
research potential, engineering education, and encouraging young
women to pursue technical and research careers.
Following the seminar, participants stressed the need to further
develop institutional mechanisms for gender equality and to
strengthen cooperation among energy companies, scientific
institutions, and professional associations.
