JEDDAH: The Technical and Vocational Training Council (TVTC) is seeking to develop Saudi youths in all types of vocational and small businesses to achieve the targets of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
The council is planning to train 950,000 young Saudi men and women by 2020, and also seeking to expand its training units to increase the participation of high school graduates and working youths in technical and vocational programs, and polish their skills according to their interests, by offering them flexible morning and evening programs.
General Organization for Technical and Vocational Training Gov. Ahmed bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid said during the 7th Arab-German Education and Vocational Training Forum, which opened Thursday at Berlin, that the Kingdom is going through a new phase of development in every sector to comply with Vision 2030, and is putting all efforts into developing the future of the youth in education, training and rehabilitation, advanced health services, developed housing projects, entertainment and other fields.
He said investment is the key to diversifying the economy and achieve sustainability, and the strategic geographical location of the Kingdom will enable investors of the world to focus on connecting with other continents through Saudi Arabia.
Al-Fuhaid said the vision of the Kingdom includes several objectives linked to the labor market, notably to reduce unemployment rate from 11.6 percent to 9 percent; increase the contribution of small and medium enterprises in the gross domestic product from 20 percent to 35 percent; as well as raise the rate of women participating in the labor market from 22 percent to 30 percent.
He said it will also work to bridge the gap between training outputs and needs of the labor market in the Kingdom.
Fahad bin Manahi Al-Otabi, spokespman of TVTC, told Arab News that enrollment of Saudi youths increased almost 36 percent this year.
He said the organization was seeking to expand the training units and open 42 new branches of technical colleges, so it can offer more opportunities to Saudi youths, especially high school graduates and working youths, to participate in vocational training diplomas and graduate programs.
The TVTC has initiated a number of different programs that will increase coordination and fill the requirements of the public and private sectors with qualified trained youth.
He said the aim is to increase the production of qualified and trained youths by around 10 percent annually, with the cooperation of international vocational institutes, according to international standards, and the demand of the Saudi market.
The TVTC currently operates 52 vocational colleges for men, 36 vocational colleges for women, and 66 industrial training institutes, and supports 21 private sector institutions specialized in various fields.
TVTC seeks dynamic Saudi youth role in 2030
TVTC seeks dynamic Saudi youth role in 2030
Japan ambassador attends manga exhibition in Riyadh
- ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition held to mark 70 years of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan
RIYADH: Japan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Yasunari Morino attended the opening ceremony of the “Manga Hokusai Manga” exhibition here on Tuesday.
Held at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art, the show is one of many upcoming events celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The exhibition celebrates the work of renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.
In his speech, Morino said it was a “delight to see more and more Saudi people enjoying the Japanese culture from (the) traditional to contemporary.”
He added that he was happy to see “Saudi artists being inspired by the Japanese manga to create their artworks.”
“I sincerely hope this exhibition will make another footprint of the Japanese culture in KSA and give a great impact in the Saudi art scene,” he said.
The exhibition has been organized in cooperation with the Saudi Museums Commission and the Japan Foundation and is open to the public until Feb. 8.
A version of this article appeared on Arab News Japan.
Saudi aid agency KSrelief distributes over 2,000 food parcels in Pakistan
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed 2,028 food parcels in Pakistan’s flood-affected Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions, benefiting 13,159 people, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
Sunday’s initiative forms part of this year’s Food Security Support Project in Pakistan.
The aid reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian efforts through KSrelief to assist needy individuals in Pakistan.
Energy ministers discuss Saudi-Japan cooperation
RIYADH: Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto held discussions on cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz on Tuesday.
The officials reviewed current ties and stressed the importance of joint efforts in energy transitions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The ministers welcomed the progress made under the Manar Initiative, which is a Saudi-Japan effort to promote clean energy.
The initiative was launched after former Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to Saudi Arabia in 2023.
A version of this story originally appeared on Arab News Japan.
Saudi aid agency KSrelief treats hundreds at Aden prosthetics center
- The services included the manufacturing and fitting of prosthetic limbs, as well as physical therapy
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has helped to treat 452 Yemenis, who lost limbs because of the ongoing conflict, at the Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Center in Aden governorate, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
A total of 1,407 procedures were completed for men, who made up 65 percent of patients, and women at 35 percent.
In addition, 54 percent were displaced individuals and 46 percent residents.
The services included the manufacturing and fitting of prosthetic limbs, as well as physical therapy.
KSrelief continues to provide general and critical care for vulnerable Yemeni people, the SPA reported.
New study documents reptile species in King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve
- Researchers identified 31 species — 25 lizards and six snakes — following 1,551 field observations within the reserve
RIYADH: A groundbreaking scientific study has unveiled the first detailed list of reptile species in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
Conducted by the reserve’s development authority, the study was published in the Amphibian & Reptiles Conservation journal.
Researchers identified 31 species — 25 lizards and six snakes — following 1,551 field observations within the reserve. Three species were also newly documented, raising the reserve’s known total to 34.
The research highlighted two endangered species, the Egyptian monitor lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia) and the Wolfgangboehmei gecko (Tropicolotes wolfgangboehmei), which both face threats from climate change and human activity, according to the study.
Spanning from November 2022 to October 2023, the study employed tools such as genetic barcoding and highlighted the reserve’s ecological diversity.
Aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 program and the Saudi Green Initiative, the study is part of efforts to protect endangered species and sustain wildlife in Saudi Arabia. Researchers recommended enhanced monitoring and adaptive conservation strategies to mitigate environmental challenges.
