Leaders from the Middle East and North Africa are joining with more than a dozen major businesses to implement The New Vision for Arab Employment, a strategic plan launched last week to address youth unemployment and improve their skill levels.
The New Vision for Arab Employment, a program of the World Economic Forum (WEF), will provide job and skills training to 100,000 young people across the region by the end of next year. Bahrain will account for 20,000 of those trainees by providing entrepreneurial development through Tamkeen, Bahrain’s semi-governmental organization that promotes programs supporting the country’s developing economy.
“WEF’s latest initiative is a valuable chance for the region to invest in the training and education of its promising young people and to help businesses to take advantage of the talent pool on their doorstep,” Tamkeen Chairman Shaikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al Khalifa said. “Tamkeen is committed to providing training, advice and support for those who need it; by the end of 2015 we had supported over 130,000 individuals and enterprises. By participating in The New Vision for Arab Employment we hope to encourage more Bahrainis to fulfill their true potential. Bahrain already has in place the network of supporting institutions that will allow the beneficiaries of this initiative to develop and thrive and we look forward to working with these organisations to ensure their success.”
Bahrain and other participating countries will be aided by the cooperation of at least 14 businesses throughout the region that have pledged to help address unemployment issues. They include Saudi Telecom, Zain Group, Al Shaya Group, King Abdullah Economic City, Jumeirah Group, Al Ghanim Industries and Consolidated Contractors Company.
