The initiative aims to encourage more nationals to join the Kingdom's private sector through the training and employment of 400 Saudi professionals in the fields of sales and mobile services. The Memorandum of Understanding between axiom telecom and (TVTC) was signed by Abdul Kareem Al Thunayan, head of TVTC in the Eastern Region, and Jamal Al Bugmi, General Manager of axiom KSA, under the patronage of Ahmed bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid, Governor of TVTC. Also present at the signing ceremony was Mohammed Al Jawhar Al Taifi, Country Manager of Human Resources at axiom KSA. The agreement follows recent directives by the Ministry of Labor for employers to support a stronger presence of Saudis in the telecommunications industry. According to the latest Labor Market Update by the Saudi closed joint stock company Jadwa Investment, the Saudization ratio in the private sector stood at 20.7 percent in 2015. Meanwhile, figures show that the overall Saudi unemployment rate was at 11.5 percent last year. The private sector is expected to be to the main source of new jobs for Saudis, according to the Jadwa Investment report, supported by continued labor market reform, and changing cultural perceptions. Meanwhile, the Saudi mobile electronics market continues to demonstrate strength – the Kingdom accounted for 52 per cent of the mobile connected devices shipped across the GCC in Q1 of 2015, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC). "The success of any economy depends on the education and professional development of its youth, and that is why it is crucial that we empower young jobseekers with the right skills mix that will not only allow them to enter the private sector, but also grow and succeed," said Jamal Al Bugmi, General Manager of axiom KSA. "Collaboration between all members of the community, from parents and educators to employers and regulators, is instrumental to cultivating and sustaining a resilient Saudi workforce, and that is why we have launched this program together with the TVTC." Individuals who would like to apply for the program must be Saudi nationals, at least 18 years of age, currently unemployed, and not certified by other training programs. Applicants can visit www.axiomtelecom.com or call 920029466 to enroll or for more information. According to the agreement, TVTC provides the venue, necessary equipment, and issues the certificates for those who successfully complete the course. Set to be a trailblazer for mobile electronics retailers in Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC, axiom telecom has 75 stores located across the Kingdom, with 4,500 points of sale, 21 distribution networks, and 264 Saudi employees. The acclaimed reseller, which is recognized for its unrivalled customer service, recently opened its doors to an experiential shopping concept at several areas in the Kingdom.
