RIYADH: Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Riyadh Region, and President of the Trustees Council for the Prince Salman Young Entrepreneurs Award, said, “We are in a stable and secure state and work is available to all. Competition and sincere hard work are requirements for success.” He was speaking at a ceremony held here Saturday night to honor those who won the Prince Salman Young Entrepreneurs Awards. There were 14 winners representing nine different sectors. Before the winners were honored, Prince Salman's initiative to establish the Prince Salman Young Entrepreneurs Center was announced. Prince Salman donated SR2 million to the charitable institution and other donations from state institutions and businessmen followed, bringing the total to SR3.5 million. The youngest contributor was a nine-year-old boy, who donated SR100. In his speech, Prince Salman emphasized that employers and those who seek work must make serious efforts to address employment-related matters. “Opportunities are available to all,” he said. “King Abdullah, the Crown Prince and the Second Deputy Premier have advised us to create job opportunities for all and to cooperate with all segments of society including businessmen in all that is of concern to our dear nation.” It is good for employers, employees and the country when people have opportunities to work and work effectively, Prince Salman said. “Full-time work in the government and private sector is in the nation's interest and it is more appropriate for the youth to work for their nation,” he said. “Our country is a great nation and it attracts the focus of the world through the holy places located here.” The ceremony reflects the leadership's commitment to fostering and recognizing developments in creating economic opportunities, he said. “Celebrating our youths winning these awards is an extension of the encouragement for them to work in all fields,” he said. “The state educates youths and employs them and so do businessmen and companies.” He advised youths to forge ahead, even if they have to start from scratch, in order to achieve their goals the way their fathers and forefathers did. The awards program aims to upgrade young entrepreneurs' businesses by encouraging creative initiatives, developing their services to their clients, developing their resources, improving their services, and supporting the initiatives in their early days so entrepreneurs can succeed, Prince Salman said. It also includes consolidating the spirit of taking the initiative, raising awareness of the culture of self-employment among young entrepreneurs and of their becoming pioneers at the local, regional and international levels in stimulating youth, he added.
