NAIROBI, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Sixth Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) forum ended on Thursday in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi with a call to upgrade vocational skills for the youth, hastening Africa's transformation.

The forum was held under the theme of "Leveraging TVET (technical, vocational, education and technology) in the knowledge and skills ecosystem for Africa's industrialization."

Kenyan President William Ruto said at the forum that for Africa to thrive and become more climate-resilient and inclusive, the continent must skill its youth in sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics.

"Bridging the skills gap in the fields of science, technology and innovation will grow our economies, boost productivity and create more green jobs," Ruto said, adding that investing in vocational training will help leapfrog Africa into a new industrial era.

Kenya's Ministry of Education, the World Bank and the Nairobi-based International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology hosted the sixth edition of the PASET forum that discussed the future of work, green economy and digitization.

In their resolutions, delegates said that Africa is ripe for an industrial takeoff, anchored on building the skills of its youth in diverse fields like engineering, advanced manufacturing and the application of digital tools. To hasten the transition to the Fourth Industrial era, the continent should increase its research budget to the recommended two percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), besides enacting friendly policies and regulations, according to Ezekiel Machogu, Kenya's cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Education.

According to Machogu, African countries should increase enrollment in tertiary institutions and promote advanced training in applied sciences and engineering in their quest to become hubs for the knowledge-based economy. Enditem

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