UNDER the patronage of Prince Khalid Al-Faisal-Governor of Makkah Province, King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) has signed a contract with King Abdulaziz University (KAAU) to train 1,000 male and female students from Rabigh and nearby towns. The program is designed to develop the high school students' skills to succeed in the labor market. This initiative is part of KAEC's annual “Tomouh” (Ambition) program running under the banner of ‘My Future…My Responsibility'. Fahd Al-Rasheed, Group CEO and Managing Director of KAEC, expressed his appreciation to Prince Khalid Al-Faisal for his continues support for KAEC and all its activities, as well as the training programs to prepare the youth for entry into the labor market, which reflects the government's attention to provide the appropriate opportunities to enable the Saudi youth having a bright future and be pillars of the kingdom's economic growth.” Al-Rasheed also lauded Prince Khalid Al-Faisal supports for “Tomouh” program, which KAEC has launched to train young Saudis and hone their professional skills for leadership jobs in the public and private sectors. He said: “The Tomouh program is one of KAEC's most important sustainable development initiatives and is a key part of our strategy of adopting community development programs within the economic city's premises. The program will provide training to qualify young Saudi male and female candidates and enable them to compete for jobs with some of the most prominent national and international companies operating at KAEC.” He emphasized the value and significance of KAAU's participation in this program as it is one of the most important academic institutions in Saudi Arabia. The contract was signed by Fahd Hamidaddin, Chief Marketing Officer in KAEC, and Professor Dr. AbdulRahman Al-Youbi, Acting President of KAAU, along with high-ranking officials from both sides. Speaking on behalf of KAAU, Professor Al-Youbi, said: “We encourage the young students in Rabigh to take advantage of this opportunity that KAEC has opened up for them, and strongly advise them to make the most of the program to elevate their educational levels and develop their English language and computer skills, so as to become a force to be reckoned with in the nation's development.” Hamidaddin thanked KAAU and its team for their collaboration as well as the logistical support they provide for the program. He said: “We work hard to support and prepare young males and females to join the Saudi workforce and make an innovative contribution to the growth of KAEC, a place that is best qualified to absorb all their youthful energy into the vast pool of job opportunities available at the Industrial Valley and King Abdullah Port.” He also said the training will be conducted for four month, five days, six-hours a week. He pointed out that since the Ambition program kicked off three years ago, more than 700 young Saudis have benefited from the training courses, which greatly help to bridge the gap between the outcomes of the educational process and the actual needs of the labor market.— SG
