SJAHI was established following the visit of Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz, the Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation to Japan in 1998. The institute was set up in September 2001 by the National Committee, constituted by the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce & Industry. The institute's official inauguration took place on March 19, 2003. Japanese Automobile Distributors in the Kingdom (JADIK) and Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Japan (JAMA), have collaborated and given SJAHI its physical form. JADIK members include Abdul Latif Jameel Co. (distributors of Toyota and Daihatsu), Al-Hamrani United Co. (Nissan), Alesayi Motors (Mitsubishi), Abdullah Hashim Co. Ltd. (Honda), Suzuki Saudia Co. Ltd. (Suzuki), Haji Husein Alireza & Co. Ltd. (Mazda), Omar Balubaid Co. Ltd. (Subaru), Bakhashab Bros. Co. (Isuzu, Jeddah), and Abdullatif Alissa Group (Isuzu, Riyadh). Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which represents the Japanese government, has provided highly skilled technical experts and donated state-of-the-art machineries, tools and equipment to train young Saudis in the field of automobile maintenance. After graduating from SJAHI, the students join maintenance workshops and service centers as technicians and then, based on their performance and periodic evaluations, they progress on a JADIK designated career path: First technician, then pro-technician, master technician, chief technician, service adviser or floor manager, service manager, area service manager and, finally, general manager of service. "At present there are 419 students in the institute," Asmarei said as he unveiled the institute's plan to carry out further expansion. "Every year some 180 to 200 students graduate from the institute and they work at maintenance workshops of Japanese car dealers," he said. The institute has sent two groups of outstanding graduates from technical colleges to Japan to enable them to become trainers there. "They are now working as assistant trainers. We have sent a third batch of graduates to Japan for further training," he added. The first batch of 190 trainees passed out of the institute at a graduation ceremony presided by Governor of Makkah region Prince Abdul-Majeed Bin Abdul-Aziz on October 3, 2004.--SPA1024 Local Time 0724 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/272335