Venezuela's Inces and Consecomercio sign partnership to boost technical training

The Instituto Nacional de Capacitación y Educación Socialista (Inces) and the Consejo Nacional del Comercio y los Servicios (Consecomercio) formalised a cooperation agreement aimed at aligning technical education with the current technological, practical and operational demands of the private sector. The pact emphasises continuous training, development of specific competencies across the commerce and services supply chain, and formal accreditation of experiential knowledge. Inces President Wuikelman Angel Paredes and Consecomercio President José Gregorio Rodríguez highlighted the need to connect market demand with youth training, to expand the National Apprenticeship Programme (PNA) beyond its current 14‑18‑year‑old limit, and to propose a System of Training for Work and dual‑training models. The organisations report that around four million young people are currently in training programmes, with roughly one million receiving on‑the‑job experience, and they intend to submit a joint proposal to the Venezuelan presidency. Both leaders described the agreement as a historic step for the country’s commerce and industry sector.