Norway Needs Up to 5,000 Welders: Uzbekistan Explores Specialist Training Programme
2026-11-12 23:30:00 / News
According to Norwegian expert Erik Eng, Norway's labour market has an estimated demand for approximately 4,000–5,000 welders, while the estimated demand across Europe is around 30,000 specialists.
These figures were presented during an online meeting held on 12 November 2026 between Muhsinxoja Abdurakhmonov, Director of Uzbekistan's Migration Agency, and Norwegian expert Erik Eng.
The discussions focused on training qualified welders in accordance with international industry standards and exploring opportunities for their organised employment in Norway and other Scandinavian countries.
Training Specialists Using Norwegian Methods
During the meeting, the Uzbek side proposed establishing a specialised welding training programme at one of the country's technical colleges, incorporating Norwegian teaching methods and modern equipment.
The initial phase would involve training and certifying 10–20 instructors, with the possibility of arranging one- to two-week practical placements at industrial facilities in Norway.
These instructors would subsequently train welding specialists in Uzbekistan, helping establish a sustainable national training model.
International Certification Alone Is Not Enough
Erik Eng emphasised that holding an ISO certificate does not automatically qualify a welder to work in highly specialised industries.
In particular, employment at offshore oil and gas facilities, wind energy installations and other high-standard industrial sites requires advanced knowledge of occupational safety, industrial procedures and practical technical requirements.
These competencies would be incorporated into the proposed training curriculum to better align Uzbek specialists' qualifications with the expectations of Scandinavian employers.
International Partnerships and Potential Grant Funding
The Norwegian expert expressed his readiness to develop a preliminary two-stage training programme for instructors and welders in cooperation with relevant industry specialists.
The participants also explored opportunities for collaboration with European vocational training centres and potential joint educational initiatives, including those supported through Erasmus+ mechanisms.
Erik Eng highlighted his professional connections with welding training institutions in Romania, Hungary, Spain, Germany, Slovenia and Croatia, which could facilitate future educational partnerships.
However, specific funding arrangements and programme implementation conditions have yet to be agreed upon.
Norwegian Expert May Visit Uzbekistan
The parties discussed a possible visit by Erik Eng to Tashkent on 30 November 2026 to assess the facilities of technical colleges, review proposed curricula and conduct practical training sessions.
They also considered expanding professional cooperation with Norwegian experts in nursing, the fishing industry and electrical engineering.
The initiative aims to establish an internationally aligned welding training system in Uzbekistan and expand employment opportunities for qualified Uzbek specialists in Norway and other Scandinavian labour markets.
Further consultations will determine the programme's training arrangements, potential funding sources and employment mechanisms.