Kazan, Russia – Hon. Esther Davinia Anyakun, Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, paid an official visit to the Alabuga Start Program at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan.
The Alabuga Start Program is a skills development initiative pledged by the Government of the Russian Federation during the 2nd Russia–Africa Summit in 2023. It focuses on equipping young women aged 19-22 with practical and employable skills. Since its inception, over 250 participants have been enrolled, with a target of recruiting 1,000 participants annually, demonstrating a strong commitment to youth empowerment and skills transfer.
During the visit, the Hon. Minister held an interactive engagement with the program participants, where she commended them for their resilience, discipline, and dedication to skills acquisition. She stressed the importance of maximizing the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, professional exposure, and cultural exchange, noting that these competencies are critical for Uganda’s socio-economic development upon their return.
The Hon. Minister also met with the program’s technical team, who provided a guided tour of the Alabuga Polytechnic School. The team highlighted advanced training opportunities in higher-level technical trades such as electrical engineering, carpentry, and robotics. It advocated for increased participation of Ugandan youth in these high-demand fields.
The program equipped participants with transferable skills that can be applied in Uganda upon completion, typically after three years of study. Some beneficiaries were encouraged to pursue further education at the Alabuga Polytechnic and other Russian institutions of higher learning. Several participants progressed into administrative roles, while others taught in international schools within the Special Economic Zone.
This visit highlighted the growing cooperation between Uganda and the Russian Federation in skills development and youth empowerment. The Hon. Minister reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to initiatives that promote employability, decent work, and the empowerment of young women. She was accompanied by the Assistant Commissioner, the Youth Member of Parliament, H.E. Moses K. Kizige, the Head of Mission, Ambassador Gideon Rutazindwa, the Deputy Head of Mission, and other Embassy staff.
