TABUK — NEOM launched on Tuesday its first initiative to train Saudis to take up jobs in NEOM Project. The training will be imparted through the program of “NEOM Vocational Diploma Ending with Employment,” which aims to improve the technical skills of more than 6,000 trainees in the upcoming five years. This is part of Saudizing jobs in NEOM’s diverse sectors as well as to ensure their involvement in building the largest project of its kind in the world, the Saudi Press Agency reported. In its first year, 1,000 students will receive training in three major sectors: tourism, hospitality and cybersecurity. The NEOM Academy was set up in January 2020, in partnership with the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) and the University of Tabuk. The program will support the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 in developing the national manpower in different fields which will promote the growth of non-oil gross domestic production. Priority in admission will be given for the Saudi residents in the NEOM region and Tabuk. All the applicants can register for the program through the website of the academy, which will be part of the University of Tabuk campus, at the following link: https://neom.ut.edu.sa/neomacademy Director of NEOM Eng. Nadhmi Al-Nasr said that empowering competent people is one of the objectives of NEOM. He expressed happiness over witnessing the launching of the project that will enable Saudi citizens to participate in building NEOM Project. He thanked all partners who have contributed to the launch of the academy. This program is one of the programs that NEOM had launched to build the capacity and skills of the local community. The other programs that NEOM launched as part of its social responsibility initiatives include scholarship program and English-language training program. NEOM is also working on launching other programs that aim to develop the digital capacity of the trainees.