Rustam Minnikhanov meets with chief of Worldskills International

President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov has met with Simon Bartley, chief of the international non-profit organization Worldskills International.

Official delegate of the international movement Worldskills International from Russia Lidia Frolova, Aide to the Tatarstan President Airat Khairullin, Vice-premier – Minister of industry and trade Ravil Zaripov, Minister of education and science Albert Gilmutdinov and Chief of the Kazan Executive Committee Aleksei Pesoshin attended the meeting.

The non-profit organization Worldskills International unites 61 countries and organizes international cooperation to achieve higher standards of education around the world. The organization is also widely known for holding world championships of working-class trades. Russia joined the organization two months ago, on May, 17.

Opening the meeting, the Tatarstan President noted the importance of this visit to Kazan. “Cooperation with WSI will enable training new personnel for our high-tech enterprises,” he said. Rustam Minnikhanov also confirmed that Tatarstan is ready to host world championship of working-class trades. “We have infrastructure, high-tech production and are ready to hold such events,” the RT President said.

Simon Bartley said he was impressed by what he had seen in the Tatarstan capital within 24 hours. Chief of WSI supposes Kazan can host the world Worldskills International championship. He told that the decision about the place for holding championship-2019 would be made at the Worldskills International Assembly in Brazil in 2015 during the competitions in São Paulo.

According to Simon Bartley, Worldskills International championships promote working-class trades. Bright competitions attract thousands of spectators. In 2011, in London 250 thousand young people, children and parents visited the event during four days. Many of them chose professional education afterwards. 960 sportsmen took part in the competitions.

Simon Bartley invited Tatarstan delegation to visit European championship of working-class trades in Belgian Spa Francorchamps.

Rustam Minnikhanov noted the importance of work on enhancing prestige of working-class trades for Russia and Tatarstan in particular. Republican leadership works hard on increasing level of primary and secondary professional education.