RIYADH – The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) in Saudi Arabia supervised the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between two specialist companies to establish and operate an academy for entertainment, which will provide specialist programs to train and qualify Saudis to work in the sector. The academy will see the light of day in about two months, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) stated quoting GEA sources. An MoU was signed by MINA Education and Development & Bunyan Development Ltd. to establish and operate the Saudi Entertainment Academy in Riyadh which will offer specialized entertainment courses and programs starting from September later this year, including a diploma in entertainment management. The MoU was signed at GEA's headquarters in Riyadh recently in the presence of the CEO Amr Bin Ahmed Banaja. Banaja said: "This move will help integrate efforts of various authorities and achieve harmony between initiatives so as to come up with projects that bear real added value to the entertainment sector." Praising this vital initiative, Banaja described it as a step forward towards enhancing cooperation between relevant entities, including the private sector, and creating projects that add value to the Kingdom's entertainment sector. He also took this opportunity to reiterate GEA's commitment to supporting such initiatives that serve the development of a sustainable and effective industry able to fulfill the economic and social objectives. Banaja also highlighted the significance of the project in empowering Saudi youth by equipping them with necessary career skills and creating enriching job opportunities as per the targets outlined in Vision 2030. Moreover, Banaja stated that GEA continually seeks innovative projects and initiatives that aim to develop solutions and contribute towards achieving the sector's objectives as part of an overall comprehensive strategy. — SPA
