Central Asia and Türkiye Youth Talks: Fostering Regional Dialogue, Co-operation, and Innovation

On 11-18 August 2025, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe in co-operation with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and with the support of the regional youth Network by Consensus conducted a Central Asia (CA) and Türkiye Youth Talks in Istanbul, Türkiye. This cross-dimensional event provided a regional platform for young leaders from CA region and Türkiye to discuss the issues related to strengthening youth dialogue, enhancing financial literacy and developing networking opportunities for the future development of the region.

During the event, 21 young people (12 women and 9 men) from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan worked together on development of the projects which could further promote the role of youth in three thematic areas: gender and security, financial literacy, and digitalization and anti-corruption. Participants had a chance to meet with the representative of one of the Turkish technological companies to learn from the experience on developing the innovative tech solutions.

One of the highlights of the event was the Youth Talks’ Day, dedicated to peer-to-peer exchange. Young leaders from Central Asia and Türkiye strengthened their skills to engage in decision-making, discussed the role of youth in peace and security, and explored the challenges they face. They shared ideas and worked on joint projects to support progress in their societies. The event emphasized that connecting young people across borders is essential for expanding knowledge, building networks, fostering co-operation, and driving positive change in the region.