The first batch of 100 Saudis jobseekers underwent an intensive training in Information Technology from June 4 to August 20 under an agreement between the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and Microsoft. The agreement was signed recently by Prince Saud Bin Abdullah Bin Thenayan Al-Saud, chairman of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu as well as of SABIC, and Steve Anthony Palmer, general manager of Global Microsoft. The trainees completed the course in Microsoft's “IT Can” project in which Qualifying university graduates will be trained to work for SABIC and its contractors. The initiative is part of Saudi Arabia's plans to reduce unemployment and develop national manpower. SABIC and its affiliates have joined the national plans to prepare Saudis to train in various fields of work. Mohamed Al-Mady, SABIC vice chairman and CEO, highlighted the importance of the project and other similar plans to develop Saudi skills and create suitable work environment in order to help young Saudis realize their ambitions. This first batch of trainees highlights an important, strategic project which will involve several government and private sectors in the future. The ambitious “IT Can” project is expected to expand in the coming years to attract more college graduates to ease unemployment in face of the increasing number of graduating students. The project will help create a pool of young Saudis in technical fields, including Information Technology. Abdullah Saad Al-Rabeeah, SABIC executive vice president for Shared Services, expressed his desire for the agreement to be implemented successfully and develop the Kingdom's industrial and human resources sector.
