JEDDAH: The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) signed Monday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Retail Institution (SRI) to train 500 Saudi youths in retail trading. Adnan Mandoura, the JCCI's acting secretary general, said the MoU is to ensure the private sector benefits from the JCCI's programs and projects. He said the SRI is a non-profit entity which seeks to train and employ Saudis. Dr. Abdul Aziz Bin Ismael, the SRI's executive chairman, said that nominees will be interviewed by expert staff. The selected applicants will attend workshops and other vocational guiding sessions. The freshman classes will tackle the latest developments in retail trade in the Kingdom and identify obstacles hampering the sector's development. The retail sector in the Kingdom employs 1.5 million people. However, Ismael pointed out that the Saudization of the sector only stands at 16 percent. He said the SRI wants to train 10,000 Saudis over the next three years.
