Young Saudis trained in construction trades

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal attended the graduation ceremony of the first batch of 300 Saudi youths who have completed training in various vocations in the construction industry such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters and technicians. Addressing the function at the headquarters of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the governor said this is a serious step toward establishing partnerships among various sections of the Saudi society for the development of Makkah province. “You come forward to participate in the training program and take up these jobs after bidding farewell to unemployment and dependence. What I see here today is something that I had wished for last week when I called for ensuring the participation of all members of the society in the development process,” he told the graduates. Prince Khaled urged government organizations and agencies to take part in the programs to provide training and employment to jobless young Saudis. “The region’s progress would be realized through the collective efforts of all sections of the society,” he said. NESMA Holding Company conducted training programs for Saudi youths in various jobs in the construction sector, and these graduates would soon be employed at Makkah Jabal Omar Project. Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Saleh Al-Turki, president of NESMA, described this as a serious step in cementing cooperation between the government and private sectors in enabling Saudi youths to take up jobs in vital sectors including the booming construction field. “We will continue providing training to more Saudi youths in the building construction sector,” he said while adding that this program is the fruit of cooperation among the Ministry of Labor, Technical and Vocational Training Council in Makkah, Jabal Omar Development Company (JODC), NESMA and their partners in the contracting field. Rashed Al-Zahrani, president of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) in Makkah, said the training program was conducted at the headquarters of the secondary industrial institute in the city. As part of training, special courses were held on English language, computer, professional etiquette, and safety at workplace. He said the graduates would be employed as welders, electricians, AC technicians, mechanics, masons, painters and flooring workers. Abdul Rahman Fakeeh, chairman of the board of directors of JODC, said the company last year concluded a landmark agreement with the TVTC to train 20,000 Saudi youths in the fields of hospitality, hotel and tourism industry.