TİKA Built the “Turkic World Culture and Training Kitchen” in Kyrgyzstan

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) built the “Turkic World Culture and Training Kitchen” in the Department of Cookery and Culinary Arts in Prof. Dr. Turan Yazgan Turkic World Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Institute of Social Sciences at International Toktomamatov University in Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan.

International Toktomamatov University is located in Jalal-Abad, one of the major cities in the Fergana Valley and the third most populated city in Kyrgyzstan. The Department of Cookery and Culinary Arts in Prof. Dr. Turan Yazgan Turkic World Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Institute of Social Sciences, which was established in 1993 at the university, trains skilled employees for the tourism industry in the field of Kyrgyz and Turkish gastronomy.

The Turkic World Culture and Training Kitchen, which was renovated and equipped by TİKA within the Institute, will offer training to students according to international standards and contribute to tourism and economy in Kyrgyzstan through the vocational training courses to be held for adults free of charge.

Osman Usta, TİKA’s Bishkek Program Coordinator, accompanied Dr. Ümit Naci Yorulmaz, TİKA’s Vice President, during the inspection he carried out at the project site as part of his working visit. Assoc. Prof. Aizhamal Kantoroeva, Vice Rector of International Toktomamatov University; Assoc. Prof. Çağrı Ergezer, Director of Prof. Dr. Turan Yazgan Turkic World Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Institute of Social Sciences; and teachers of Turkey Turkish Teaching Center (TTÖMER) in Jalal-Abad were also present during the visit.

During the visit, during which delicious Turkish dishes prepared by teachers in the Turkic World Culture and Training Kitchen were served, Dr. Ümit Naci Yorulmaz, TİKA’s Vice President, stated that he believed the Turkic World Culture and Training Kitchen would be one of the bridges of friendship between Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. Yorulmaz noted that the students and adults who would be trained there would contribute greatly to tourism and economy in Kyrgyzstan.

In her speech, Assoc. Prof. Aizhamal Kantoroeva, Vice Rector of the University, thanked TİKA and said she was pleased with the kitchen built at their university.

Assoc. Prof. Çağrı Ergezer, Director of the Institute, noted that they had been providing applied training in the kitchens of various hotels before the Culture and Training Education was built, that it was a costly practice and could not offer the desired level of productivity, and that they were happy to offer training to students according to international standards.